Understanding Parkinsons Disease Essay -- Health Medicine

Understanding shaking palsy DiseaseDiagnosis of paralysis agitans Disease To date, there are no specific diagnostic criteria for paralysis agitans Disease. Diagnosis can buoy only be made by an expert examination after the person has already developed symptoms. Biochemical measures can be used such as a screening strategy monitoring the dopamine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid. Otherwise, specifically 6(18F)dopa positron emission tomography can be used for a direct measurement of dopamine activity. Using a computer to assess movement time is another test for Parkinsons disease. To examine the electrophysiological characteristics of tremor and preclinical nigral dysfunction characteristic of Parkinsons EMG (electromyographic recordings) can be used. Finally, a symptomatic screening is often utilized and consists of order symptom related questions, as well as disease specific and drug specific questions. This provides an indirect functional measure of the nigrostriatal dopami ne system.Facts about Parkinsons Disease Increasing age strongly increases the risk of Parkinsons disease. Male gender and possibly Caucasian ancestry are associated with more modest increases in risk. The reported prevalence of Parkinsons disease varies widely in international community-based studies ranging from 31 to 328 per 100,000 people. Whether these differences represent actual differences in the occurrence of disease cannot be soft determined. This is due to the limited number of studies conducted and restricted population samples used. The risk factors of Parkinsons disease are primarily environmental and are not genetically based.clinical Features The main clinical features in Parkinsons Disease include rigidity, bradyki... ...an de Silva, H.A. Khan, N.L. & Wood, N.W. (2000). The genetics of Parkinsons disease. Current Opinion in catchings & Development 103 (June) 292-298. Tanner, C. M. (1996). Early Intervention in Parkinsons Disease Epidemiologic Considerati ons. Ann Epidemiol. 6 5 438-441.Tasker, R.R. Lang, A.E. & Lozano, A..M.. (2000). Pallidal and Thalamic Surgery for Parkinsons Disease. Experimental Neurology. 1441 35 - 40.Veldman, B.A.J. Wijn, A.M. Knoers, N. Praamstra, P. & Horstink, M.W.I.M. (1998 ). Genetic and environmental risk factors in Parkinsons disease. Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery 100115-26.Volkmann, J. & Sturm, V. (1998). Indication and results of stereotactic surgery for advanced Parkinsons disease. Critical Reviews in Neurosurgery. 84 209-216. For information regarding Parkinsons Disease http//www.parkinsonsweb.com/