Considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the second most common neurodegenerative disease, it "predominantly affects dopamine-producing ("dopaminergic") neurons in a specific area of the brain called the substantia nigra" (Parkinson Foundation, 2022).
It is a movement disorder characterized by symptoms such as tremor, rigidity, slowness of reaction or difficulty in initiating a movement, and postural instability (Balestrino and Shapira, 2020). Due to the way in which it manifests itself, people who suffer from it present difficulties in carrying out daily activities.
Although the above symptoms are motor and postural in nature, people who develop the disease often manifest other non-motor symptoms, such as depression and stomach problems.
It is worth mentioning that there are still no certainties regarding the causes of this condition, although it is known that it may have a genetic component. The disease has several stages and, although it does not shorten a person's life expectancy, it is to be expected that the person's capabilities do diminish with the passage of time (Guía Salud, 2019).
It is therefore important that, if it is suspected that the patient may have the disease, a specialist should be consulted for proper evaluation. If the diagnosis is confirmed, drug therapy and rehabilitation should then be initiated.
It is also normal that, after a positive diagnosis, both the patient and his family experience fear or uncertainty regarding his future evolution. However, it should be noted that many tools and treatments are currently available to enable these patients to have a good quality of life. This is the case of physical and cognitive stimulation, which makes it easier for them to develop their activities according to the stage of the condition.
Providing the rehabilitation and specific care they require is one of the specialties that Verdeza offers to its residents with this or any other neurodegenerative disease. Specific therapies and treatments are applied by qualified personnel, following medical orders.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
Balestrino, R. and Shapira, A. (2020).
Parkinson's disease. Eur J. Neurol, 27: 27-42.
Health Guide (2019). Parkinson's disease guide for affected people, family members and caregivers.
Retrieved from:
https://portal.guiasalud.es/wpcontent/uploads/2019/01/gpc_546_parkinson_iacs_paciente.pdf
Parkinson Foundation (2022) What is Parkinson's?
Retrieved from.
https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/what-is-parkinsons
