Parkinson's is easily misdiagnosed

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system characterized by a loss of dopamine cells in the brain. Dopamine forwards neural signals in the brain, so when these cells die (60 to 80 percent have, by the time symptoms appear), movement is impaired, and eventually, speech. The 60,000 Americans - including 1 in 100 seniors - diagnosed in an average year experience muscle rigidity, tremors, physical imbalance, difficulty swallowing or chewing, slowing physical movement and in some cases, loss of movement.

PD is chronic, slowly progressive, and can be very painful, so depression is commonly par for the course. Causes vary; it may be genetic, stroke-induced (usually multiple strokes), due to fluid buildup in the brain, or the result of injury/head trauma. Famous people with Parkinson's disease include actors Vincent Price and Michael J. Fox, Pope John Paul II, boxer Muhammad Ali, and Adolf Hitler.

April is Parkinson Awareness Month.

It's not fatal, nor is it curable. No blood or lab test can yet diagnose it; doctors rely on medical history and a neurological exam. In early stages, symptoms are easily misidentified as simple aging or sometimes, other disorders (and certain rare diseases are often misdiagnosed as PD). While most patients show symptoms in senior years, Michael J. Fox's diagnosis at age 30 illustrates PD occasionally strikes the young, in which cases a genetic abnormality is suspected.

Treatments may mitigate patients' very individualized symptoms; different things work best for different people. Options address symptoms and include medication, some surgeries, and physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Lifestyle changes such as more rest and exercise (e.g., yoga or tai chi) also help. A bestseller published in 2013 called, "Parkinson's Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life" outlines a doctor's answers to 20,000 questions from patients and families about "living well" with the disease, which author Michael Okun says is crucial for patients who may be coping with it for decades.

Parkinson's can't be stopped or reversed, yet. However, there is reason to hope. Researchers studying gene therapy and stem cell implantation believe these may one day generate dopamine-producing cells in the brain to at least reduce symptoms, if not stop PD's progress.

For more information see Parkinson.org and Ninds.Nih.gov. Coeur d'Alene has several free resources to aid PD patients and families: a support group on the first Friday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Lake City Center, televised speakers at Kootenai Health Resource Center (2 p.m. on second Mondays), and two events each Thursday at Silver Lake Mall - "Singing for Wellness and Joy" at 10 a.m. followed by Tai Chi at 11 a.m. For more information see the CDA Parkinson's Support Group Facebook page or call group secretary Beth Hatcher at (208) 635-5243.

"Acceptance doesn't mean resignation; it means understanding that something is what it is and that there's got to be a way through it." - Michael J. Fox

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Contact her at [email protected].