2. What is Parkinson’s?
• A neurological syndrome or disease caused by a
lack of dopamine within the brain.
• It is incurable, degenerative and eventually
impacts on all aspects of daily life.
• Dopamine is a neuro transmitter which ensures
smooth movement of muscles.
• Symptoms of Parkinson’s begin to surface once 80%
of the dopamine producing cells have died.
• Parkinson’s disease (PD) is typically considered
a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative movement
disorder. However, it is now known to have
variety of nonmotor symptoms as well.
6. Parkinsonism comprises four
cardinal motor features
• Bradykinesia (slow and small movements). Reduced
blink, face expression, and gesturing. Soft voice.
Difficulty getting out of chair, shuffling steps,
reduced arm swing, freezing
• Tremor (usually resting) “pill rolling”, often
involves thumb
• Rigidity (different from spasticity)
• Postural changes. Imbalance, falls; stooped flexed
posture
7. What does Parkinson’s look like?
• SLOWNESS* (bradykinesia)
• STIFFNESS* (rigidity)
• TREMOR*
• POSTURAL INSTABILITY*
• STOOPED POSTURE
• SHUFFLE
• LACK OF ARM SWING WHEN WALKING.
• LACK OF FACIAL EXPRESSION
• DEPRESSED OR LOW IN MOOD
8. The effects of Parkinsons
• Walking
• Talking, communicating in a group, social
isolation and embarrassment.
• Non-verbal communication, lack of vocal tone.
Facial expression
• Swallowing/saliva control . Eating in public.
• Bladder and bowel control
• Writing
• Buttons, zips
• Concentration, motivation, low mood
• Sleep problems
• Dementia, hallucinations
Editor's Notes
There is a trend now to drop the disease element of the title of this illness. I describe it as a syndrome as it is a group of symptoms, but actually people are affected in different ways.
PDUK classification
Neurological = involves the nervous system
Neurotransmitter = chemical messenger which relays from the brain to the smooth muscles to give smooth, coordinated movement.
The four cardinal symptoms
A person has to have at least 2 of these four to support a diagnosis of PD.
Alternative diagnosis..Parkinsonism, PSP, MSA, LBD
Keeping up in conversation, reacting to jokes, quips in a timely manner. The bradykinesia affects mind and body and by the time a Pwp has had time to digest what has been said, and formulate a response, often the topic of conversation has moved on.
Social withdrawal, Botox, kwells, atropine drops.
Becoming needy, vulnerable, a burden to those you love.
Dopamine is the pleasure/reward neurotransmitter…if there is not enough of it you can lack the ability to experience pleasure even of things yuo have previously enjoyed.
