On the 26th World Parkinson's Day, let's learn about this strange and familiar disease.
What is Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease is a common neurodegenerative disease in the elderly, clinical manifestations of resting tremor, bradykinesia, abnormal posture and gait, affective disorders, sleep disorders, stool dysfunction and so on. The prevalence of patients over the age of 65 is as high as 2%, and it has become the "third largest killer" of middle-aged and elderly people in the mainland (second only to tumors and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases).
Why do these symptoms occur?
Due to the rapid functional degradation of the part of the patient's brain called "substantia nigra", the inability to produce a neurotransmitter "dopamine" makes the brain's ability to direct muscle activity limited to varying degrees, which greatly hinders the patient's ability to move. Once the "dead" nigra cells exceed 50%-80%, the other areas of the brain involved in motor control can no longer work together, and the patient's movement becomes messy and uncontrollable.
How can Parkinson's disease be prevented?
Early diagnosis, early treatment. Patients with Parkinson's disease at different times should take different treatment measures to improve their quality of life, slow down the progression of the disease, and prevent the occurrence of complications. If there is a family history of Parkinson's disease, it should be highly valued, and it is necessary to control high-risk factors such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia, exercise appropriately, use the brain moderately, and work and rest rules.
Can Parkinson's disease be completely cured?
Parkinson's disease is a treatable disease, early patients through oral antiparkinson's drugs, can partially or completely relieve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, does not affect normal life; after the honeymoon phase of the drug, the efficacy of the drug is reduced, conditions allow for deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery can be performed, improve symptoms and prevent complications.
What is DBS Surgery?
DBS is to implant electrodes in specific parts of the deep part of the brain, continuously release electrical stimulation through a pacemaker, inhibit the electrical impulses of overexcited neurons, thereby alleviating the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, so that the patient can restore the original ability to move and self-care as much as possible.
Efficacy of DBS surgery
DBS surgery is a very good way to significantly improve the motor symptoms and motor complications of Parkinson's disease, some patients can return to normal state, but not all patients are suitable for surgery, which requires strict evaluation and judgment by professional doctors. At the same time, Hunan Provincial Brain Hospital has established the first deep brain stimulation remote regulation center in Hunan, and patients can complete the regulation without leaving their homes after surgery.
With the increasing number of patients year by year, parkinson's disease is no longer unfamiliar in public perception. Fortunately, Parkinson's disease does not shorten the natural lifespan of patients, and there are currently a variety of treatments that can improve patients' symptoms and have a better prognosis.
Contributed by: Liu Chang, Jingwei Office of the Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province (Hunan Provincial Brain Hospital).
Editor: Liu Yuchen
Image: From the Internet, intrusion and deletion