Parkinson's Disease - The Shaking Palsy

Submitted by PatientsEngage on 26 October 2015

Dopamine is a Brain Chemical that helps to control muscle movement. In Parkinson's Disease the brain cells that make dopamine slowly die. The resultant lack of dopamine in body leads to physical symptoms such as slowness of movement, unusual stiffness in body, tremors and loss of balance. Depression, anxiety, constipation, speech-swallowing problems are some of the many other affections of Parkinson's Disease.

 

 

 

 

 

Changed
04/Nov/2017
Community
Parkinsons Disease and Movement Disorder PDMDS
Condition
Parkinson Disease
Clinical Features and Diagnosis PDMDS.pdf (651.59 KB)

Stories

  • A partially visible counsellor sitting with a person with outstretched hands
    Can Counselling Help Persons With Parkinson's?
    Persons with Parkinson's are not just affected by motor and cognitive behaviour symptoms but also emotional difficulties. Clinical Psychologist Shanaya D’souza and Health Psychologist Shibani Khanna explain the need and benefits of seeking counselling help for the mental health issues.  Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder which develops when the brain cells which produce the neurotransmitter dopamine begin to degenerate. Apart from the visible motor symptoms that make everyday…
  • A young woman in the foreground in a white t-shirt talking into a mic
    I Rediscovered Myself When I Publicly Accepted My Parkinsons
    Dr Shanthipriya, 45 is a YOPD warrior and consultant ophthalmologist. Devastated when diagnosed with early Parkinson’s, she talks about how she picked up the pieces, moved forward and started the SAAR Foundation to reach out to other people with neurological issues. Introduction to Parkinson’s My journey with Parkinson’s began 8 years ago with the diagnosis of YOPD (Young Onset Parkinson Disease) and the question Why Me? In early 2011 my husband and son noticed the abnormal positioning of my…
  • Major Fonseca in a white tshirt and black and grey striped sweater and Mrs Fonseca in a purple and white top
    Parkinson's Changes The Life Of The Caregiver Too
    While Parkinson's Disease affects the person who has been affected by the condition, it also changes the role of the spouse who suddenly has to take on the role of a caregiver and support the patient in terms of their daily routine and activities. Mrs. Fonseca shares her experience.  Diagnosed in 2014, Major Fonseca has been a member of the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Society support group for a year now. He has an easy, commanding presence – his time in the army apparent in…
  • A young woman with short dark hair on the right supporting and looking at an elderly silver haired woman on the left
    Preventing Caregiver Burnout While Caring For Person With Parkinson's
    Taking care of a person with Parkinson’s is tough and it progressively gets tougher as the condition progresses. Samiksha Sivan, Clinical Psychologist, PDMDS talks about caregiver burnout and how a caregiver can take of herself/himself.  “It is extremely tough to see my husband, who was such a lively person become so dull and expressionless. I help him with most of his everyday tasks now and he seems to realise somewhere that he is dependent on me and he hates it! I worry a…
  • Two juxtaposed images of Parkinsons Patient Mr Zend Merwan Zend in a light shirt
    Humans Of Parkinsons story - Mr. Zend Merwan Zend
    A grandchild remembers grandpa Zend Merwan Zend and how the progression of  Parkinson's Disease affected the man, his activities of daily living but not his zest and will power for life. Zend The Boxer (1948) Zend The Baker (1950) Zend the Marathoner (2012-2013)  Zend The Conqueror (Afternoon newspaper 26-7-12) The above titles are what Zend Merwan Zend (Born :9-12-1935) is known by. I simply call him Grandpa!  At the age of 60, my grandfather (I hero worship him) had suddenly…
  • Image: Black and white pic of Marianne's parents as a young couple - mom on the left and dad on the right
    Parkinson’s Robbed Their Soul And Spirit
    Marianne de Nazareth recounts how traumatic it has been to see both her parents suffer from Parkinson’s and how the progressive disease strips the dignity of the individual. Parkinson’s is an old disease in our house. Both my Dad and Mom were afflicted with it, unfortunately.  My Dad was ravaged by it first, and now it is after my Mom. It has been tormenting our family for nearly three decades now. My father, Anthony Michael Furtado, got Parkinson’s in his mid-50s. We started noticing a…
  • Image of an older silver haired person thinking and a younger dark haired person in a blue shirt and white t-shirt sitting next to him and debating whether to share or not about Parkinson's Disease diagnosis
    To Share or Not to Share - A Patient’s Dilemma
    Rajeev, 56 has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease but is unsure of the reaction he will receive if he shares his diagnosis of Parkinson's with his social circle. What do you think he should do?  Living in Dread “Hey, WHAT happened to you? Are you all right?”, screamed my cousin Sony who met me after several years at a wedding. Gosh! The secret is out, I thought. “I am all right, why?”, I said, keeping up the charade. “You are too slow”, he was spot on.  Sony is a doctor and he…
  • Mr Dugar, bespectacled man with black hair holding a mike sharing tips on improving quality of life with Parkinsons
    "If I Can Change, So Can Others"
    Sudha Meiyappan, founder of Parivarthan, shares Mr. Sagarmal Dugar's conscious approach to Parkinson's and to his life.  Parivarthan is a community support group in Chennai that provides a safe platform to those diagnosed with Parkinson’s disorder.  There are few people who are so inspiring that each interaction with them leaves one with a feeling of lightness and hope.  Mr. Sagarmal Dugar (holding the mike in the picture above) approached us in early 2016 wanting to be…
  • Recognizing Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson’s
    The lesser known non-motor, psychological symptoms of Parkinson’s disease such as depression and anxiety can be more difficult to manage and more disabling than the characteristic motor problems like tremors and rigidity. Learn more about it from psychologist Meghana Srinivasan from Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Society (PDMDS). Parkinson’s disease is primarily known to be a neurological disorder that is mainly characterised by problems in body movements that affect daily…
  • Image: Stock pic of an older silver haired woman in a blue sweater sitting on a sofa and holding hands for an article on living well with Parkinsons Disease
    Keys To Living Better With Parkinson's Disease
    Dr Kapil Agarwal, Senior Consultant & HOD Department of Neurology at W Pratiksha Hospital in Gurgaon, discusses some salient issues about Parkinson’s Disease and how one can tackle it best. Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease Following symptoms may indicate that patient may be suffering from Parkinson's disease: Tremors of hands, head, body, etc. Slowing of movements in routine activities like walking, eating, dressing, bathing, etc. Reduction of facial expressions- decreased blinking of eyes…