Parkinsons Disease, Essay Example

Parkinson’s disease is a debilitating illness that affects several aspects of an individual’s life. While there is currently no known cause or cure, the role of dopamine does appear to have a significant impact. According to Barone, Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder that negatively affects the individual’s sensory motor system. The degenerative process also causes dopamine fluctuations that lead to a number of negative symptoms. With the fluctuating level of dopamine the individual may experience sleep disorders, olfactory dysfunction, anxiety and depression. According to Barone, “the complex, interconnections of the neuronal system is regulated by different neurotransmitters, but largely by dopamine” (2010).

Treatment is limited because there is no known cure, however some research suggests that dopamine replacement therapy in the early stages may slow the progression of the disease (Schapira, 2011). Treatment is also aimed at treating the symptoms of Parkinson Disease to make the patient more comfortable. Medically managing the individual’s motor system and neurotransmitter inhibitors can help tremendously. Movement control and diminishing secondary symptoms is typically the goal of medicinal treatment for Parkinson’s. The focus is to control issues like muscle control, which can be positively affected through treatment neurotransmitters (Barone, 2010).

In conclusion, Parkinson’s disease is a complex illness that affects a number of areas of the brain and body. Developing a better understanding of the interaction between the neurotransmitters and the affect that they have on one another will assist in the treatment or possible cure of the disease. In order to keep it effectively controlled for the best possible outcome, Barone notes that individuals should have dopamine replacement therapy as early in the disease process as possible (2010). Otherwise treatment may simply be treating the symptoms caused by the underlying disease, which is oftentimes not successful.

References

Barone, P. P. (2010). Neurotransmission in Parkinson’s disease: beyond dopamine. European Journal Of Neurology, 17(3), 364-376.

Schapira, A. V. (2011). Challenges to the development of disease-modifying therapies in Parkinson’s disease. European Journal Of Neurology, 1816-21.