Parkinson’s disease Awareness Month

As mentioned yesterday, April isn’t only autism awareness month.  It’s also Parkinson’s disease (PD) Awareness Month.  PD can be caused by many things.

Although the exact cause of PD isn’t clear, many variables can factor into the disease.  These factors include: genetics, environmental exposure, and a lack of chemicals such as dopamine and reduced amounts of norepinephrine in the body.  Proteins called Lewy bodies can be found in the brain of a person with PD and are most often labeled as abnormal.

There are many signs to tell if a person has PD.  These signs can be: tremors, stiff muscles, difficulty with balance, speaking troubles, and dementia.  If a person is experiencing any one or more of these problems, they should contact a doctor to be sure they haven’t developed this disease.

PD doesn’t have a cure currently, but there are a variety of options which can be taken to minimize the disease.  Medications can be given, physical therapy can be preformed, and surgery can also be completed on a person with PD.  Healthy eating habits and plenty of exercise can also be recommended to a person with PD.

Parkinson’s facts:  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/parkinsons-disease/DS00295