There are many
questions surrounding Parkinson’s disease, and several of the more
frequently asked questions are answered here. If you have a question
that is not addressed here, please feel free to send us some
feedback.
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What is Parkinson’s
disease? |
| The symptoms of
Parkinson’s disease, or Parkinsonism (PD), result from the degeneration
of nerve cells in the mid-brain, and the corresponding loss of the
neurotransmitting chemical dopamine produced by those cells.
More
specifically, Parkinson’s is a disorder of body movement. It is a
progressive neurological disease that affects people of either sex and
all ethnic groups. PD is NOT fatal. It is NOT infectious.
It CANNOT be transmitted to other members of the family.
Over 1.5 million
Americans suffer from PD, with more victims, young and old, being
diagnosed daily. 40% of the victims are under the age of 60. It is
estimated that PD costs the U.S. over $26 billion annually in disability
costs and lost productivity. Neither the cause nor the cure for PD is
known.
Because the
disease is progressive, it may ultimately become debilitating. Without
adequate treatment and support, people with Parkinson’s may tend to
become depressed and withdrawn. However, with modern drug treatment and
community support, such isolation is unnecessary.
A
Glossary of Terms
may help in understanding some of the words and phrases used in
describing Parkinson’s Disease.
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Who gets
Parkinson’s disease? |
| "Parkinson’s
does not discriminate. It afflicts people regardless of gender,
race, background, behavior, lifestyle or geographic area. Despite the
common perception that PD is an "old person’s" disease, the average
age of diagnosis is 57 years, with many diagnosed in their 30’s and
even 20’s; yet due to the debilitating nature of the disease, the
Parkinson’s community has been largely invisible to the public and the
government."*
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What causes
Parkinson’s? |
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Parkinson’s disease is caused by the failure of a group of nerve cells
in the brain to produce adequate amounts of a chemical called dopamine.
Dopamine is necessary for smooth, coordinated movement and muscle
relaxation. It is not known why the cells cease producing dopamine.
However, it is likely that research will soon provide the answer.
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What are the
symptoms of Parkinson’s? |
Three
main symptoms may be experienced by people with PD:
1. Tremor (shaking),of one or more parts of the body.
2.
Muscular rigidity.
3.
Bradykinesia (difficulty in initiating movement and slowness of
movement).
4. Fatigue, difficulty with fine movements and poor handwriting are
other symptoms often experienced early in the disease.
Each person’s pattern of symptoms is unique. Some people have only one
or two of the main symptoms. Others may have all major symptoms in
varying degrees of severity
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What are the
statistics? |
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Parkinson’s disease affects over one million people in the U.S.,
more people than Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, and Lou
Gehrig’s Disease combined.
Estimated number of people with PD in
Washington State = 31,500
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Every year there are 100,000 new cases, or 20 per 100,000 people,
the incidence rising with age.
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At present 1% of the population over 50 has Parkinson’. This number
will increase in concert with the number of older people. In 1900
there were 3.5 million people over age 65; in 2000, there will be 35
million.
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The annual cost of Parkinson’s disease in 1997 in the U.S. was
estimated to be $24,041 per patient, with an aggregate annual cost
of $24 billion. The pressure to provide cost effective services is
mounting.
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Treatment for
Parkinson’s |
Many of
the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease can be treated, even though to date
there is no cure. Research has provided us with medications which are
very effective over long periods of time. Physiotherapists,
Nutritionists, Speech and Occupational Therapists, and Counselors can
all help to maintain and improve the quality of life for people with
Parkinson’.
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Family resources
for Parkinson’s |
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There are many
great resources on the internet for those touched by Parkinson's disease
- the patient, family and the caregiver. Please visit our web resource
page for a list of internet resources.
Click here...
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Advocacy |
Advocacy is the act of supporting and speak out for a cause or
proposal. In the Parkinson’s arena, this most often rakes the form
of political activism and lobbying efforts to increase funding for
research. It can also refer to the raising of public awareness of PD
or helping an individual with Parkinson’s improve their quality of
life.
Please visit our Advocacy
section of this Web Site and contact your elected officials.
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What is the cost of
Parkinson’s? |
"The
annual costs (health care, disability, loss of productivity, long-term
care, etc.) associated with PD total $25 Billion -- a cost that
will only increase as the Baby Boom generation ages. Parkinson’s also
robs people of their lives and their ability to contribute fully to
their family, community and country. The cost of medications and
currently available surgical therapies is also very expensive."
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Current medical
research |
"There is tremendous
research potential in several areas, including neuroprotective agents,
improved stimulation devices, cell replacement, and bioengineering of
cells. But this potential can only be translated into improved
therapies, treatments and potential cures if there is adequate federal
support for Parkinson’s research."
Many articles on
the latest research in PD are available on the
Recent News Page on
this web site.
Also, the
Parkinson Association newsletter provides a tremendous amount of useful
material for those coping with Parkinson’s.
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How do I connect
with others? |
You are
already here at the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, an organization
devoted to opening lines of communication. The
Parkinson Foundation's Public Forum is a great tool for people with
PD and their caregivers to get in touch wit others.
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