Neurological Disorder Parkinson s Disea
Parkinson’s Disease
Noreen Sahs
PSY350
Dr. Wayne Briner
June 1, 2014 The reasons chosen to critique Parkinson’s disease are entirely personal, are educational in nature and are emotional personally. My stepmother was diagnosed, after many misdiagnoses, with PD about a year ago. Before her final PD diagnosis a great deal of degeneration in her functioning with debilitating symptoms over a period of about two years manifested. She suffered from a frequent chronic dry, hacking cough that lasted minutes at a time, her speech became so slurred that it was difficult to understand what she was saying. Her balance was impeded and she had difficulty walking straight and she was taking shortened steps, described as shuffling, and she had difficulty walking in general, especially on uneven surfaces and in the wind. After diagnosis, amazingly, with differing for symptomology pharmacological therapies, her badly slurred speech became markedly better almost instantly. With physical therapy combined with an exercise component, she is learning to control her movements, as she suffers from inability to move forward once she has stopped moving, known of freezing of gait (FoG). This rigidity makes it difficult for her to start moving again. Her balance issues have worsened over the past year, and the disease is obviously progressing, but she has definitely benefitted from treatment for her symptoms. The focus of this paper will be concentrating on biological etiologies, risk factors both genetic and environmental, development and pathology, currently available treatment options, and current research and technologies being utilized to help fight symptoms of PD.
Parkinson’s Disease The complete etiology of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is not yet completely known however neuronal dysfunctions causing the symptoms have been identified. There are also certain risk factors which may lead to the onset of PD that have also been identified. PD is not always immediately or easily
Noreen Sahs
PSY350
Dr. Wayne Briner
June 1, 2014 The reasons chosen to critique Parkinson’s disease are entirely personal, are educational in nature and are emotional personally. My stepmother was diagnosed, after many misdiagnoses, with PD about a year ago. Before her final PD diagnosis a great deal of degeneration in her functioning with debilitating symptoms over a period of about two years manifested. She suffered from a frequent chronic dry, hacking cough that lasted minutes at a time, her speech became so slurred that it was difficult to understand what she was saying. Her balance was impeded and she had difficulty walking straight and she was taking shortened steps, described as shuffling, and she had difficulty walking in general, especially on uneven surfaces and in the wind. After diagnosis, amazingly, with differing for symptomology pharmacological therapies, her badly slurred speech became markedly better almost instantly. With physical therapy combined with an exercise component, she is learning to control her movements, as she suffers from inability to move forward once she has stopped moving, known of freezing of gait (FoG). This rigidity makes it difficult for her to start moving again. Her balance issues have worsened over the past year, and the disease is obviously progressing, but she has definitely benefitted from treatment for her symptoms. The focus of this paper will be concentrating on biological etiologies, risk factors both genetic and environmental, development and pathology, currently available treatment options, and current research and technologies being utilized to help fight symptoms of PD.
Parkinson’s Disease The complete etiology of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is not yet completely known however neuronal dysfunctions causing the symptoms have been identified. There are also certain risk factors which may lead to the onset of PD that have also been identified. PD is not always immediately or easily
References: Devos, D., Moreau, C., Dujardin, K., & Cabantchik, I. (2013, Oct). New Pharmacological Options for Treating Advanced Parkinson 's Disease. Clinical Therapeutics, pp. 1640-52. Landro, L. (2014, May 27). The Informed Patient: Specialized Care Urged for Treating Parkinson 's Disease. The Wall Street Journal, D. 1. Med, P. (2011, April 5). Diagnosis. Retrieved from Parkinson 's Disease Foundation: http://www.pdf.org/en/diagnosis?gclid=CP33m6-Q2b4CFchFMgodT1YATA Wilson, J. F. (2013). Biological Basis of Behavior. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Writers, C. (2013). About Parkinson 's Disease. Retrieved from The Michael Stern Parkinson 's Research Foundation: http://www.parkinsoninfo.org/about-parkinsons-disease/