The Causes and Detrimental Effects of Parkinsons Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a slow progressive degenerative condition characterized by resting tremor, expressionless (mask-like) face, muscular rigidity, flexed posture, slow movements, and moderate to severe progressive dysarthria (Bhatnagar, 2002). Degenerative parkinsonian disorders can be inherited or sporadic, but are all distinguished by a loss in selective populations of vulnerable neurons. The common factor for all degenerative parkinsonian disorders is loss of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra that project to the putamen (Dickson, 2012). It is most prevalent in over one percent of the elderly population and is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease (Benninger, 2013). However, Parkinson’s disease may also occur in younger adults and can affect both men and women (Medline). This disease affects the nerve cells in the basal ganglia and substantia nigra. Nerve cells in the substantia nigra produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter, and are responsible for relaying messages that control body movement. The dopamine-producing nerve cells of the substantia nigra begin to diminish. When eighty percent of dopamine is lost, symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, such as tremor and stiffness, begin to appear. Body movement is controlled by inter-connected groups of nerve cells, known as ganglia. Information is received by the striatum, which works with the substantia nigra to send impulses back and forth from the spinal cord to the brain .TheShow MoreRelatedThe Parkinsons Disease1596 Words   |  6 PagesMany people around the world today suffer from Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. A movement disorder is a disorder impairing the speed, fluency, quality, and ease of movement. There are many types of movement disorders such as impaired fluenc y and speed of movement (dyskinesia), excessive movements (hyperkinesia), and slurred movements (hypokinesia). Some types of movement disorders are ataxia, a lack of coordination, Huntingtons disease, multiple system atrophies, myoclonus, briefRead MoreA Case Study of a Patient Suffering with a Long Term Health Problem4890 Words   |  20 Pagessemi-detached house (See attached appendix for a full history of Mrs P). Mrs P was initially admitted in to hospital after a succession of falls in a short proximity of time and has since been newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative neurological disease effecting the neurons within the brain (Lang et al,2001). The main symptoms that sufferers experience are tremors, rigidity and slowness of movement. Other symptoms can include pain, fatigue, constipation and depressionRead MoreIt Is Never Too Late To Quit Smoking. Smoking Is A Habit1348 Words   |  6 PagesIt is never too late to quit s moking. Smoking is a habit that many Americans have even into their old age. However, smoking is not a healthy habit it effects your brain, heart, lungs and throat, it can cause cancer, as well as COPD. Not only does smoking lead to chronic diseases, but has many effects on the aging process. In older adults, they see a lower quality of life due to a lifelong of smoking. Although smoking in old age has become less popular, the generation of baby boomers is going to changeRead MoreStruggling With Mental Health Disorders1462 Words   |  6 Pagessometimes be extremely detrimental to a person’s health and can eventually lead to death if not treated. Extensive research has provided the world with more knowledge on the causes, symptoms, and treatments of several mental health disorders with the help of the DSM-5. Any individual can be diagnosed with a mental health disorder, even those â€Å"perfect† celebrities people idolize. Robin Williams, a well-known actor and comedi an, took his own life in August 2014 from the detrimental effects of bipolar disorderRead MoreAnimal Testing: Pros and Cons Essay1021 Words   |  5 Pagesimprovements to modern medicine as a result of animal testing should be weighed heavily against the harmful and toxic ingredients used in such experiments and their detrimental effects on test subjects like rats and mice. Something important to remember in animal experimentation is that, Most experimentation has nothing to do with disease research..., it is product testing (Medical News Online). Nobel Prizes for Medicine awarded seventy-one scientists who did research on animals in the last 103Read MoreRegulation and Functions of the p53 Protein689 Words   |  3 Pagesfunction of p53, as seen in most cancers, results from missense mutations in the DNA binding domain (2). Functions of p53 Various intracellular and extracellular stimuli, such as DNA damage, heat shock, hypoxia, and oncogene over-expression can cause p53 (wild type) to be activated and trigger diverse biological responses, both at the cellular level as well as in the organism as a whole (2). It plays a regulatory role in cell cycle control and apoptosis. Its three major functions in response toRead MoreA Link Between Genetics And Gangliosidosis1577 Words   |  7 Pagesfor treatment of gangliosidoses, or the increase in lipid storage in cells. Diseases such as Tay-Sach’s, Sandhoff disease, Alzheimer’s and HIV are at the forefront of research into how these cells affect different aspects of the body. Gangliosides, the cells that store lipids, are often found in neural tissue. This is the basis for research into these diseases and possible treatment. This review examines the causes of such neurological disorders and the expanding research into treatment.â€Æ' GeneticsRead MoreCase Study : Voyager Therapeutics, Inc.822 Words   |  4 PagesVOYAGER THERAPEUTICS, INC. is a growing Clinical stage Gene Therapy Company. The main focus of this company is based on developing life changing treatments for patients suffering from various types of disease associated with central nervous system or CNS. The gene therapy is called AAV or adeno-associated virus, which is a therapeutic approach to alter the expression of a specific protein, thereby reducing the symptom experienced by patients, and that, will have a clinically meaningful impact onRead MoreEffects Of Exercise On Brain Health1623 Words   |  7 Pagesprevention of disease and age related cognitive decline are necessary to improve quality of life and reduce the associated healthcare costs (Australian Government Productivity Commission [AGPC], 2013). Physical exercise is known to be crucial in maintaining physiological health; it can also be used as a means of neuroprotection and assist in m odifiable risk factors for improved brain health and subsequent cognitive function. This review will critically analyse current research into the effects of exerciseRead MoreA Summary On Parkinson s Disease2850 Words   |  12 PagesParkinson first described a disease, later to be known as Parkinson’s Disease (PD) as a; neurodegenerative disorder affecting the physical, psychological, social, and functional status of individuals (Parkinson Society Canada Staff, 1965). In the time since the disease was first described, the frequency of individuals affected with the disease has increased, with no single cause yet to be identified as the culprit for the onset of the disease. According to the Parkinson’s society Society of Canada