Understanding Parkinson’s disease

Its symptoms are so subtle and develop so slowly that it usually takes five to 10 years before you even know there’s a problem. Even then, this disease can almost always be managed, often for decades, with specialized medications and good self-care. Read on to learn more.

More than 100,000 Canadians have Parkinson’s disease, and about 5,000 new cases are discovered every year. If you've recently been diagnosed, you are probably already displaying some symptoms, maybe a slight trembling (tremor) in your hands, legs or face, or possibly muscle stiffness, coordination problems or a slowness of movement (bradykinesia).

These and other Parkinson’s symptoms indicate that nerve cells (neurons) in a relatively tiny part of your brain called the substantia nigra have started to die off. This results in a drop in dopamine, a nerve chemical that carries the signals that allow your muscles to move quickly and smoothly.

Parkinson’s disease usually occurs between the ages of 55 and 70, and men get it slightly more often than women. Up to 10 percent of those afflicted, however, are under age 40 — and have what’s called "young-onset" Parkinson’s.

What causes Parkinson’s remains a mystery. One theory is that naturally occurring oxygen molecules called free radicals damage nerve cells in the brain. Research has shown that some Parkinson’s patients have a 30 to 40 percent decrease in an enzyme called complex I, which normally controls this free radical onslaught.

Genetic factors are occasionally involved as well. If you have a close relative with Parkinson’s disease, your chances of getting it are three times greater than someone without a family link.  If you have Parkinson’s, the outlook is good. Among the degenerative diseases of the nervous system, Parkinson’s is one of the most treatable. Symptoms do get worse over time as dopamine steadily decreases, but many individuals go on to live full, active lives.

• Medications to preserve or replace the natural nerve chemical dopamine in the brain.
• Regular exercise to improve coordination and strength.
• Nutritious diet to prevent constipation and increase antioxidant levels.
• Surgery to reduce symptoms, only if drugs don't work or side effects are unbearable.

• Eat more fava beans. If you're at the earliest stages of Parkinson’s disease and aren't yet taking medications, your doctor might advise you to eat these legumes. They contain a hefty amount of levodopa, the same therapeutic compound that’s used in some medications. If you're already taking drugs, however, don't add favas to your diet without checking with your doctor. You could wind up getting too much of the active ingredient.
• Work on "muscle freezing." If you literally freeze in place and find it hard to take a step, you can usually break free by rocking from side to side or by pretending you're stepping over a small object. You can also divide each movement into several steps. For example, if you're going to walk through a door, approach the door, pause, open the door, pause, then walk through. Some people have had success improving their gait by walking to the ticking of a metronome.
• Wear clothes that are easy to get on and off. As the disease progresses you may have trouble even with simple activities like dressing. Make it easy on yourself by buying pants and skirts with elastic waistbands and simple slip-on tops that have no hard-to-fasten buttons or snaps.
• Take small bites when eating. It puts less strain on your chewing and swallowing muscles, which may become less responsive over time.