By Annette Campbell
Around 100,000 Australians are currently living with the debilitating neurological condition, Parkinson’s. Political legend Don Chipp was one of its most recent casualties. Although it’s commonly perceived as an “old person’s disease”, according to figures from Parkinson’s Australia, one in seven people living with the condition is younger than 40.
Here we talk with Parkinson’s Australia’s CEO Bruce Shaw about the condition, its causes and the possibility of a cure.
Q: What is Parkinson’s? A: It’s a progressive degenerative neurological condition involving depletion of dopamine, a chemical transmitter, in the brain causing abnormality of movement. It has three major symptoms:
tremor
rigidity (a stiffness of the muscles) and
akinesia (abnormal movement). And because of postural instability, poor balance can be a feature. These symptoms are also associated with disturbance of gait (the manner of walking), particularly as Parkinson’s progresses.
Its impact reaches far beyond the clinical signs and symptoms exhibited by those afflicted. It not only places a severe burden on the individual, but also on their family, friends, workplace and society.
Q: What causes it? A: Many of the movement problems in Parkinson’s disease have been linked to a deficiency of dopamine (one of a group of chemicals that neurons or brain cells use to communicate with each other). Multiple environmental factors appear to be involved and, depending on the situation, may interact with the person’s genetic makeup to trigger the disease.
The degeneration that occurs commences long before the person actually develops symptoms. There is currently no marker or early indicators or diagnosis for Parkinson’s. There is a need for research in the areas of cause, early diagnosis, treatment and possible prevention and cure.
Q: Is there a cure? A: At this time there is no known prevention or cure. The gold standard remains the use of medical treatment in the form of levodopa therapy. Levodopa is the chemical precursor of dopamine. The aim of drug treatment for Parkinson’s is to correct the dopamine imbalance in the brain. Once medication has commenced, the person needs to continue on it for the rest of their life. If at any stage the person stops the medication, the symptoms will return.
Q: If it’s in my family, am I at risk? A: We are often asked whether Parkinson’s disease is inherited. About one person in 10 has a relative who is known to have or to have had the disease. It is currently believed that the reason one person develops Parkinson’s disease while another person doesn’t probably involves many different factors, some of which may be genetic and others which may be environmental.
Statistically speaking
Worldwide prevalence of Parkinson’s varies from one to two in 1000, with the figure increasing to one in 100 over the age of 60.
National Parkinson’s Awareness Week is September 3-9 and this year’s theme is ‘get it on time’ — highlighting the importance of medication management. “Parkinson’s patients need to get their medication on time, every time, in hospitals, respite, nursing homes and aged care facilities,” says Bruce. “When patients don’t take their medication, their Parkinson’s symptoms can become uncontrolled and they may become very ill.”
For more information about the event and the condition, visit: www.parkinsons.org.au or phone 1800 644 189.
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