Parkinson s Disease A Nervous System Disorder - 2308 Words

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a nervous system disorder that affects nearly five million people world wide. Most of the effects of PD are movement based. It is more prevalent in men and the chance of developing the disease increases with age. Fifteen percent of those with Parkinson’s have been identified as having a family history of the disease. Those who are 80 or older may be one-thousand times more likely to develop PD than those under 40 (Jankovic Tolosa, 2015). The symptoms of PD were first described in 1817 by James Parkinson. Over time, Parkinson was able to observe the disease in six different patients, seeing the similarities in their symptoms. As sciences have advanced at a rapid rate, the understanding of PD has†¦show more content†¦Gastrointestinal issues, such as difficulties swallowing and digestion, along with urinary tract issues, are also common (Dewey, 2004). Many cognitive problems are also present in PD. Problems with speech and mem ory are often noted. Visual analysis and facial recognition skills deteriorate and executive functioning becomes impaired. Bradyphrenia, the slowing of thoughts, often occurs also (Levin, Tomer, Rey, 1992). The diagnosis of PD is based off of a physical exam and patient history. If someone experiences bradykinesia, rigidity, postural instability, or tremors at rest, they will be considered to have PD. Just one of these symptoms needs to be present for a diagnosis, although they can occur simultaneously. About 10-25% of PD diagnosis are misdiagnosed so it is important to extensively observe a patient’s symptoms before diagnosis. The patient’s history is observed to see if they present symptoms that are associated with other disorders. This allows for similar disorders to be ruled out, increasing the accuracy of the diagnosis. Dopaminergic therapy can be administered and if there is a lasting, significant response, it is likely that the person has PD. If they do not have a response from this treatment, it is an indication of a disease other than Parkinson’s (Savitt, Dawson, Dawson, 2006). Etiology Both environmental and genetic factors have been proposed causes of PD. Studies have suggested that exposure to certain