When I started working at the Good Samaritan Society in Moscow, I had three patients who suffered from Parkinson's disease. At the time, I didn't know much about the disease except that people with Parkinson's usually suffered from constant tremors. I knew I needed to do more research into this disease, because how could I treat my patients if I didn't even understand their disease? The senior project was the perfect opportunity for me to study Parkinson's disease in its entirety. My goals this semester were to learn about Parkinson's disease, its causes and to spend time with one of my patients who suffers from Parkinson's disease and get his perspective on what he is experiencing. . Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get the original essay PD is an incurable, progressive disorder of the central nervous system primarily affecting dopamine-producing neurons, creating movement difficulties . When most people think of Parkinson's disease, they usually associate it with older people, but Parkinson's disease is now increasingly affecting younger people. In Parkinson's disease, some nerve cells in the brain gradually break down or die. The true cause of Parkinson's disease is still unknown, but researchers have discovered a few key factors that play a role in who has or does not have Parkinson's. Symptoms of Parkinson's disease usually start on one side of the body and get worse on that side. even after affecting the whole body. Some of the most common symptoms of PD are tremors, slowed movements, joint stiffness, muscle rigidity, incontinence, postural/movement disturbances, loss of automatic movements (blinking or swallowing), sleep problems, speech difficulties and writing difficulties. There are thousands of symptoms of PD, but they are not as common as the symptoms mentioned previously. Many patients first experience constant or recurring tremors, then usually begin to experience muscle and joint stiffness. In total, about 1.5 million Americans suffer from Parkinson's disease, and about 4 million people worldwide. PD is 150% more common in men than women, and in people diagnosed with PD, male symptoms progress more quickly than not. Researchers are not completely sure why so many men suffer from PD, but it has been hypothesized that exposure to toxic substances, head trauma, estrogen neurooperation, mitochondrial dysfunction, or X link with genetic risk factors make all men more likely to suffer from PD. be diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. There are many types of treatments available to reduce the severity of symptoms. These treatment methods include deep brain stimulation, medications, and regular exercise. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is the option that many patients will only consider once their medications start to stop working, but it is usually not the first option. DBS relies on implanting electrodes deep into the brain, to help reduce the tremors experienced by patients. Medications can help reduce the pain associated with some symptoms of Parkinson's disease, often very effectively. In the intermediate and advanced stages, medicationsare more commonly used to control dyskinesia (involuntary jerking), freezing (sudden inability to move), and festination (short, almost common steps), as they can become much more prevalent. Unlike many other diseases, Parkinson's disease is a very individualistic and unique disease. The effects of Parkinson's disease play a significant role in a patient's physical and mental well-being and can vary greatly from person to person. Although complete prevention is not possible, there are steps everyone can take to reduce the chances of being affected. by Parkinson's disease. Exercise is a very important part of PD prevention. After diagnosis, it is strongly recommended to exercise to relax your muscles and joints. Exercises considered “most effective” by Parkinson’s patients include: swimming, walking and yoga. Many believe that vitamin D3, going organic, eating lots of fresh, raw vegetables, green tea, omega 3 fatty acids, and CoQ10 can all help prevent PD. CoQ10 is an enzyme that helps cells produce more energy, Parkinson's disease drains energy from cells, leaving Parkinson's patients tired and unmotivated. Once a person is diagnosed with PD it doesn't mean their life is over, they are still able to do anything they want, but they just need to be more aware of what they are doing and the way she does it. for Parkinson's disease is still ongoing, many avenues and new research are still being put on the table. One of the most controversial “cures” is the use of ecstasy/MDMA. Since PD is the loss of dopamine-producing cells in the brain, it would make sense that ecstasy would help temporarily eliminate most, if not all, of the physical symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Obviously, ecstasy use is not only temporary but also dangerous. British stuntman Tim Lawrence was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the age of 34, his body alternating between rigidity and uncontrollable spasms. The only physical activity left for Lawrence was going out with friends to London clubs. It was in one of the London clubs that Tim Lawrence tried the illegal drug ecstasy. For the first time in years he was able to control his body, his contractions were gone. After believing it was some sort of freak accident or coincidence because Parkinson's disease is unpredictable, he tried again a few days later. Once again, he was in complete control of his body and still wasn't shaking. For a while he kept silent about his groundbreaking new discovery, because ecstasy use is a criminal offense, but much later he saw a documentary about two Parkinson's researchers who were trying to understand why ecstasy had such an impact on people with Parkinson's disease. He immediately showed up and started helping in any way he could. Professor Alan R. Crossman and Dr Jonathan M. Brotchie of the University of Manchester were the researchers with whom Tim Lawrence began working. Soon after, they believe they can modify the drug to eliminate harmful effects such as brain cell death, memory loss, and depression, while still allowing the good parts of the drug to work. This temporary “cure” is still very controversial and is not completely understood. Many people claim that ecstasy can help people with the disease.