Shedding light on Parkinson's  

AFFECTING over 20,000 people locally, Parkinson’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that is prevalent across the globe. While the disease usually develops as a result of old age, there have been cases of young adults in their twenties with a family history of Parkinson’s disease who develop the condition. Parkinson’s disease occurs when nerve cells from the section of the brain that controls movement become impaired, losing their ability to produce an essential chemical called dopamine that assists in coordinating the muscle cells used for movement.

Common Symptoms 

Unlike Alzheimer’s, which is another progressive neurological condition that causes memory and behavioural changes, Parkinson’s disease primarily affects the motor function of an individual. The disease is associated with the degeneration of three motor-related symptoms: slowness, stiffness and rigidity, and frequent tremors and shaking. The most common symptom of Parkinson’s disease that patients worry about are tremors and shaking. According to consultant neurologist and internal medicine specialist at KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital 2 Dr Teh Pei Chiek, slowness in movement during everyday activities such as walking and getting dressed is a far more important indicator of Parkinson’s disease.

Unfortunately, many cases of Parkinson’s disease go undiscovered until it reaches middle-stage development. Dr Teh says, “There is a need for greater awareness surrounding Parkinson’s disease so that people are better equipped to recognise its symptoms and seek treatment earlier.” While primarily known for its motor-related symptoms, over 200 years of Parkinson’s disease research have found correlations to several non-motor comorbidities that may serve as early indicators of the neurological condition.

One of the most surprising links is between Parkinson’s and constipation. Studies show that a significant amount of patients with Parkinson’s disease experienced frequent constipation up to 20 years before other symptoms. Other correlated ailments include REM sleep behaviour disorder, anxiety and depression, loss of olfactory senses (hyposmia) and frozen shoulders.

Effectively managing the disease 

Being diagnosed with Parkinson’s can be scary, more so when there is no known cure. Fortunately, it is possible to lead a fulfilling life diagnosis through proper management and treatment. There are readily available medications that help patients normalise dopamine levels in their brain, allowing patients to better manage symptoms caused by Parkinson’s disease. Dr Teh emphasises that accepting and coming to terms with the condition is essential to effectively slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease. “It should be noted that compared to a healthy person, the life expectancy of someone with Parkinson’s disease is exactly the same.

It is important to tell this to patients and relieve their worries, as unmanaged anxiety can lead to much worse than motor and non-motor symptoms. Through education, patients can learn how to accept their condition, control its symptoms well and maintain a good quality of life for a long time.” One way to keep Parkinson’s at bay is by keeping the brain active. Regular physical activity, engaging in conversation with peers and loved ones, and games such as Sudoku and Mahjong which are readily accessed through mobile apps have been shown through studies to slow down the progression of the disease.

A bright future in treatment

Through the efforts of talented scientific minds, there have been many promising developments in the field of Parkinson’s disease treatment. Among them include ongoing research on gene therapy, which Dr Teh states has the potential to change the lives of the young Parkinson’s disease group in particular. “For those with hereditary Parkinson’s, there are certain genes that cause its development.

A lot of research on how to modify genes, or gene therapy, can help this special population of Parkinson’s patients. As these patients are young and still working full-time jobs, Parkinson’s disease symptoms are much more disabling for them and potentially their families. So, gene therapy could have a huge impact on their economic or even personal outcomes,” he says.

Furthermore, pharmaceutical scientists are constantly striving to improve the formulae in terms of safety as well as effectiveness. While current medication for Parkinson’s disease comes with adverse side effects such as nausea and dizziness, there has been a rise in promising formulas that could reduce these side effects and enable safer usage. Parkinson’s disease is a fairly common neurological disease, but there is still a lack of awareness surrounding the disease in Malaysia.

Dr Teh urges everyone to stay vigilant and trust their intuition when it comes to observing symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease. If you suspect that you or a loved one may be exhibiting concerning symptoms such as slowness, persistent stiffness or recurring tremors, consider consulting a family doctor or a neurologist directly. The sooner a patient can receive treatment, the better the quality of life they will have following diagnosis. 

For more information, call 03-7717 3000.