What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s Disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years. People with Parkinson’s don’t have enough of a chemical called dopamine because some nerve cells in their brain have died.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
There are many potential signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s with each person experiencing them differently. Common symptoms include:
- Tremor
- Rigidity (stiffness)
- Slowness of movement
- MilD memory and thinking problems
- Sleeping problems
- Pain
- Mental health problems, including anxiety and depression
Treatments for Parkinson’s Disease
There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s with three main treatments to help manage it:
- Each sufferer has an individual drug regime prescribed which
- Increase the amount of dopamine in the brain,
- Acts as a dopamine substitute, stimulating the areas of the brain where dopamine works,
- Block the action of other enzymes in the brain that break down dopamine.
- Exercise evidence suggests that exercise can be an important part of managing Parkinson’s symptoms.
- Therapies are used to manage and take control of the condition. They may be physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy.
Further support
Please contact us at Funding Neuro with any further questions or concerns. We do not offer support or bereavement counselling, but our staff are experts in Parkinson’s Disease and can often guide you on best options or put you in touch with other organisations who can further help.
