All about Parkinson’s
For many people, the first time they heard about Parkinson’s disease might have been when Michael J. Fox shared his diagnosis in 1998. The announcement propelled Parkinson’s disease into the spotlight thanks to the Canadian actor’s announcement and his advocacy since.
For many others, the first time they heard about Parkinson’s might have been when someone they know received a diagnosis — a parent, a friend, a co-worker, or maybe even themselves.
A short history of Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease was officially named in 1877, but it appears in medical conversations far earlier than that: in an Ancient Egyptian papyrus more than 3,000 years old; in a fifth-century BCE text from China; in the Old Testament’s Ecclesiastes; and in the work of Leonardo da Vinci. The authors all describe conditions strikingly similar to Parkinson’s.
While discussions about Parkinson’s seem to go back centuries — millennia even! — our scientific understanding of the condition is a much newer phenomenon.
What is Parkinson’s?
Parkinson’s disease is a complex neurodegenerative condition, which means it is a brain condition that progresses with age.
The disease causes a deterioration in the area of the basal ganglia of the brain, which affects the production of dopamine, a key neurotransmitter. Low dopamine levels are responsible for many of the symptoms of Parkinson’s, which include difficulties with movement, speech, energy levels, cognitive function, and pain. Tremors which are rhythmical shaking movements that can affect the arms, legs or chin/jaw while at rest occur in roughly 2/3 of patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s can also affect mental health and memory. At least 50% of people with Parkinson’s have depression, and dementia is common as the disease progresses.
Parkinsonism is a broader term that refers to any condition that causes slowness of movement. Parkinson’s disease is the most common form of parkinsonism.
Meet neurologist Dr. David Grimes
What causes Parkinson’s disease?
The exact cause of Parkinson’s disease is unknown, but genetics are known to be a factor, with approximately 10% of cases having an underlying, identifiable genetic component. Other risk factors are known to include exposure to pesticides and head injuries, working in certain occupations, or living in certain geographic areas.
What is early-onset Parkinson’s?
Parkinson’s usually appears in people who are over 60, but when it appears in someone under 50, it is considered early-onset Parkinson’s. Early-onset Parkinson’s occurs in anywhere from 5–10% of those diagnosed.
Early-onset Parkinson’s has several unique features, including that it typically progresses more slowly, it is less likely to lead to dementia, it has a higher likelihood of causing extra involuntary movements from medications, and it is more likely to have a genetic cause. The earlier someone is diagnosed with Parkinson’s, the more likely they are to have an underlying genetic mutation thought to increase their risk.
Hear how The Ottawa Hospital helped Chantal find hope after her early-onset Parkinson’s diagnosis.
What are the treatments for Parkinson’s disease?
There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but treatment can reduce symptoms.
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Medication
The standard treatment for Parkinson’s is the drug levodopa, which is converted into dopamine in the brain. Levodopa can be administered as a pill or through other methods, such as through the abdomen or under the skin, and it is often combined with other medications. It is always combined with another medication, like carbidopa or benserazide, to decrease side effects. Other medications can include dopamine agonists, which mimic dopamine; COMT inhibitors, which block an enzyme that can break down levodopa; and anticholinergic drugs, which can correct the imbalance between dopamine and another neurotransmitter. -
Surgery
Surgery to carefully and intentionally destroy tissue in the regions of the brain Parkinson’s affects was once used to manage symptoms but is rarely used today thanks to the advent of deep brain stimulation. A newer technique using a focused ultrasound beam to destroy a different area of brain cells can be used to control bothersome rest tremors — involuntary shaking of a body part while at rest — in rare cases. -
Deep brain stimulation
Deep brain stimulation involves surgically placing small electrodes in the brain and delivering targeted stimulation to the affected areas to reduce symptoms. Developed in the 1990s, deep brain stimulation is considered the biggest advancement in Parkinson’s treatment since levodopa.
Learn more about how TOH is using VR technology to improve the accuracy of deep brain stimulation surgery.
Reshaping the future of Parkinson’s disease
The Ottawa Hospital is leading the way when it comes to Parkinson’s diagnosis, treatment, and research. From the philanthropic support generated through our Parkinson’s Research Consortium to the care delivered at our Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Clinic, from delivering the latest medication options to improving care models to offering cutting-edge treatments like deep brain stimulation — our experts are bringing hope to Parkinson’s patients every day.
The research we’re doing at The Ottawa Hospital will shape the future of Parkinson’s diagnosis and treatment in the years to come. When you support The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, you support the work that is improving patients’ quality of life today and their hope for tomorrow.
