Parkinson's Disease

Neuromuscular diseases like Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease (PD) afflict millions of Americans. However, perhaps Americans are more familiar with the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease, because unlike these other diseases individuals afflicted with PD often lead productive lives into old age. Film legend Katharine Hepburn, the boxer Muhammad Ali, former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno and TV and film actor Michael J. Fox all suffer from Parkinson's disease. The widely mediacized activities of these individuals keeps the disease in the public spotlight more than other similar illnesses. Yet despite these examples of productive individuals with Parkinson's Disease, its symptoms and long-term progression can be devastating and debilitating to many who suffer from it.

Parkinson's Disease changes movement, muscle control and balance in those who suffer from it. This progressive disorder affects between 1 and 1.5 million Americans with 50,000 individuals diagnosed with the disorder annually (Background, 2002, 4). To put this statistic in perspective, the number of people diagnosed with PD is greater than the combined numbers of people diagnosed with Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's (ALS) and muscular dystrophy. While heredity and as of yet unknown environmental agents are thought to be risk factors associated with PD, aging may be the biggest risk factor. Eighty-five percent of individuals th

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ptly, causing sudden change in body position. Walking Problems � Decreased or non-existent arm swing; short, shuffling steps; difficulty in negotiating turns; sudden freezing spells. (Primary, 2002, 1) There are also a host of secondary symptoms experience by many Parkinson's patients, although few Parkinson's patients exhibit all symptoms of either the primary or secondary variety. Secondary symptoms includes any or all of the following: depression, difficulty chewing and swallowing, urinary problems, constipation, sleep problems, problematic speech, and sexual dysfunction (Parkinson's, 2002, 5). Some of the complications from Parkinson's Disease may be due to pharmacological approaches to treating the disorder, like constipation or sexual dysfunction but all of the symptoms may be directly related to the disease alone. Intolerance to heat or cold is often associated with Parkinson's patients. Parkinson's Disease is a degenerative and progressive illness that worsens over time with symptoms becoming more pronounced and debilitating depending on the different treatment approaches adopted. A review of the literature demonstrates that genetic factors by themselves are not responsible for causing the disorder, but a genetic p

Category: Psychology - P