What Causes Parkinson disease?
How is Parkinson disease Diagnosed?
What does Parkinson Disease Look Like?
Initially, most people will notice changes on one side of the body. It may be a tremor when an arm or leg is resting, doing nothing; it might be handwriting getting smaller; it may be a feeling of slowing down; one's face may lose some of its expression looking bored or depressed (even if a person is not); or footsteps get smaller. These are just a few common things people notice before they know about Parkinson disease. Everyone is different and changes are unique to every individual. It is important to remember that how Parkinson's looks on one person will not be identical to someone else with PD.
There are four main (motor) symptoms in Parkinson disease:
- Tremor - a tembling or shaking that is involuntary and usually seen in the hands or the legs when they are just resting. (Not everyone with a tremor has PD and not everyone with PD has a tremor)
- Slow movements (bradykinesia) - describes when you want to move, everything is slowed down and it takes more time and/or effort to move
- Rigidity - stiffness of muscles
- Difficulties with walking and balance - balance becomes impaired, footsteps get smaller
There are many other symptoms that people with Parkinson disease may experience (though not always, nor all of them) as time goes on. These are typically referred to as non-motor symptoms and can include (but are not limited to): sleep disturbances, changes in speech and swallowing, fatigue, mood changes, constipation and memory and thinking changes.
Prognosis
With Parkinson disease, over time symptoms will get worse and may change to include more/different symptoms than when first diagnosed. This usually happens slowly, over years symptoms will progress over time; however symptoms tend to progress more rapidly in comparison to Parkinson's. Life expectancy for those with Parkinson disease is the same as those without Parkinson's.
Treatment
Without a cure, management of symptoms becomes the focus of PD and it involves a team of healthcare professionals. The typical person with Parkinson may have a family physician, neurologist or movement disorder specialist, pharmacist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, social worker/psychologist, speech and language pathologist, and dietician working with them.
How Parkinson Association of Alberta can help
Parkinson Association of Alberta recognizes that every person is unique and so is the treatment of a Parkinson disease and Parkinson's Plus Syndromes. We provide support, services and programs for all people with Parkinsonism conditions (and their families). These supports and services include one-on-one/family supportive counselling, Support Groups, information and resources, education sessions, assistance in identifying and locating community and government resources, and much more. To find out more please visit yourRegional webpage or call us toll-free at 1-800-561-1911.