Key Facts on Parkinson's: Good Quality of Life is Possible With Treatment Advances, Support Teams 

While there is still no cure for Parkinson’s, a complex and insidious disease, there have been sufficient advances to improve the quality of living for most patients. Nonetheless, this is a condition that is often misunderstood by the general public.

Parkinson’s affects about one million people in the U.S, and cases are on the rise, which include those under 50, explains Sameea Husain Wilson, D.O., director of Movement Disorder Neurology for Marcus Neuroscience Institute, established at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, part of Baptist Health.  

Sameea Husain Wilson, D.O., director of Movement Disorder Neurology for Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital.

“The most common misconception that I encounter is that Parkinson’s disease is a disease of the elderly,” said Dr. Husain Wilson. “I have diagnosed Parkinson’s patients in their early 30s, up to 99 years of age and everything in between. The second most common misconception is that Parkinson’s disease is fatal. It is important to note that people do not die of Parkinson’s disease, but rather die due to complications of having Parkinson’s disease.” 

Medical advances involving both medication and technology-driven surgical therapies to diminish unmanageable tremors, slowness of movement and rigidity — as well as non-movement related symptoms such as anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and cognitive issues are constantly evolving. 

The most common movement disorder treated at Marcus Neuroscience Institute is Parkinson’s disease. The Institute’s specialists also treat the cognitive and behavioral issues related to Parkinson’s as well as atypical forms of the disease. (April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month)

Symptoms and Risk Factors 

Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that results in tremors, stiffness and difficulty with walking, balance, and coordination. Symptoms usually begin gradually and get worse over time. Parkinson’s patients may also have difficulty talking. They may also have mental and behavioral changes, sleep problems, depression, memory difficulties, and fatigue. Both men and women can be diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. But the disease affects about 50 percent more men than women. 

Risk factors for the development of Parkinson’s disease include advancing age (over age 50), gender as males are more likely to develop Parkinson’s and heredity linkages such as the LRRK2 mutation found in certain populations – among them: Ashkenazi Jews and members of the North African Berberi tribe, said Dr. Husain Wilson. Another risk factor is exposure to toxins found in rural areas, well water, herbicides and pesticides. 

“Environmental factors play a role in the causation of Parkinson’s disease because exposure to certain heavy metals, herbicides and pesticides can do damage to the basal ganglia where dopamine is produced – which can thereby result in the development of Parkinson’s disease,” explains Dr. Husain Wilson. “Genetic factors play a role in the causation of Parkinson’s disease as a result of faulty genes being passed along to a child through the parents.” 

What non-medical therapies can help Parkinson’s patients?  

“Exercise, especially the stationary bike and yoga, has been shown to benefit a Parkinson’s patient — akin to medications,” said Dr. Husain Wilson. “As we all know, there is a higher risk of falls due to gait imbalance in Parkinson’s disease. In order to avoid fractures, it is important to maintain proper nutrition so that you maintain your bone density and keep your weight stable.” 

Parkinson’s and the Brain’s Dopamine 

Parkinson’s disease occurs when nerve cells in the basal ganglia, the part of the brain that controls movement, become impaired and/or die. Normally, these nerve cells produce a vital brain chemical known as dopamine. When the neurons die or become impaired, they produce less dopamine, which causes the mobility problems seen in Parkinson’s disease. 

“The pharmaceutical companies are always studying new and advanced ways to deliver dopamine to the brain of a Parkinson’s patient,” said Dr. Husain Wilson. “In addition to oral dopamine medications, there are now medications that deliver dopamine through an inhaler and through a sublingual film. There have also been advances in the development of extended-release dopaminergic medications and medications to decrease ‘OFF’ time (worsening of symptoms).” 

Deep Brain Stimulation 

With DBS (deep brain stimulation), a neurosurgeon will implant small electrodes on certain areas of your brain. These electrodes send electrical impulses to the motor centers of the brain that can help control abnormal movements seen in Parkinson’s disease. 

Many patients have had DBS to treat features such as tremors, stiffness, and rigidity. Tremors can be quite debilitating because patients can’t carry out their activities of daily living. “After DBS, some patients have tremendous success in that their tremors completely resolve,” said Dr. Husain Wilson. “Patients are elated to not have tremors despite still having other motor symptoms.”  

While Parkinson’s disease may be the most common movement disorder treated at both Miami Neuroscience Institute and Marcus Neuroscience Institute, teams of specialists also treat many other movement disorders, along with the cognitive and behavioral issues related to these conditions. In some cases, neurologists will recommend physical, occupational or speech therapy to help manage movement disorder symptoms. 

“It is very important to know that with the proper support team around a Parkinson’s disease patient, it is absolutely possible to achieve a wonderful quality of life,” said Dr. Husain Wilson. “Patients have remarked that they have never felt better in their life, and this is AFTER being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. This is because the patient’s make choices to better themselves and their overall health in a way that they never did before the diagnosis was made.”