Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, chronic neurological disease affecting a tiny section of the neurons in the substantia nigra. The cells here are responsible for dopamine production, a chemical that transfers signals to the different areas of the brain. Further, it ensures balanced muscle movement and coordination. In people with Parkinson’s disease, these nerve cells die. Consequently, the body movements are hampered. Below, we will study the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
The signs of Parkinson’s disease may be different for everyone. Typically, the symptoms are mild in the beginning and may go unnoticed. Some common signs are addressed below as follows:

1. Speech changes
   People with Parkinson’s disease speak quickly, softly, hesitate before talking, or slur. Further, your speech may be monotone and might not have usual inflections.
2. Tremor
   Shaking the hands or fingers is also a sign of Parkinson’s disease. Also, your hands may tremble even while at rest, and you may rub your forefinger and thumb back and forth.
3. Writing changes
   Your handwriting may become small, and it may become hard for you to write.
4. Rigid muscles
   You may experience muscle stiffness in any body part, causing pain and curtailing free movement.
5. Slowed movement
   With time, Parkinson’s disease can slow your movement. Consequently, it gets challenging to perform simple tasks. Further, the steps may become shorter when you walk, and getting out of the chair will get daunting. You may even start dragging your feet while walking.
6. Loss of automatic movements
   Your ability to perform involuntary movements, such as swinging your arms while walking, smiling, or blinking, may be reduced.
7. Impaired balance and posture
   Your posture may be stooped, and you may experience balancing issues.

Causes of Parkinson’s disease
Unfortunately, health experts do not know the exact cause of Parkinson’s disease, but environmental and genetic components may be involved. In addition, it has been found that people with Parkinson’s disease have Lewy bodies (abnormal proteins in the brains).

Risk factors
Some factors, such as the following, aggravate your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

• Age
  Parkinson’s disease is more prevalent in people between 50 and 60 years. Only in about four percent of cases, the patients were below 40 years.
• Sex
  Men have a 150-percent greater probability of developing Parkinson’s disease than women.
• Head injury
  Parkinson’s disease is also common in people who experience a head injury.
• Toxins
  Exposure to some toxins might also heighten your probability of developing Parkinson’s disease.
• Familial link
  If your close family member has or has had Parkinson’s disease, your risk of developing it is high.

Diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease
Unfortunately, the Parkinson’s disease diagnosis is not easy, as the early symptoms usually mimic other health disorders. In addition, there are no specific lab tests or blood tests to pinpoint Parkinson’s disease. However, imaging tests, such as CT scans or MRI scans, help rule out the possibility of diseases causing similar symptoms. For proper diagnosis, the doctor might enquire about the following:

1. your family history
2. medical history
3. current symptoms
4. any ongoing treatment
5. existing treatment options, and
6. exposure to toxins.

Moreover, the doctor will also check for signs of muscle rigidity and tremor, posture and coordination, your walk, and any slowness in the movement for diagnosis.

Treatment of Parkinson’s disease
People with Parkinson’s disease have multiple treatment options. Even though there is no cure, some treatment options or surgery can help.

Some of the treatment options your doctor might recommend to keep your symptoms in check are as follows:

1. Deep brain stimulation surgery – Herein, a wire is inserted inside a specific spot in the brain, depending on your symptoms, which require no treatment.
2. Physical therapy – Physical therapy can help better your movement and ability to walk normally. Further, the physical therapist will teach you muscle-strengthening exercises to improve your ability to swallow or speak.