BY: MACKENZIE SOARES ALYSSA MEDIEROS

STEPHANIE GARDNER

Parkinson's Disease

What is Parkinson’s?

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disease of the nervoussystem, displayed from slow, inaccurate movement, tremor and muscular rigidity.

Movement in the body is controlled by a chemical called dopamine, which carries signals between the nerves in the brain. If there is a lack of dopamine, symptoms of Parkinson's disease occur.

Diagnosing Parkinson’s

TremorSlowness and stiffness Impaired balanceRigidity of musclesFatigue

Soft speechProblems with writingStooped postureConstipationSleep disturbances

Symptoms of Parkinson's include:

Diagnosing Parkinson's can take time. There are no x-rays or tests to confirm that someone has Parkinson's. Family doctors may notice it at first, but will probably refer you to a neurologist who will check your medical history, do careful physical examinations and certain tests to be as certain as possible that you have Parkinson's.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPI1J56VhV4

Treating Parkinson’s

Currently there is no cure for Parkinson's, but there are options to help treat it. Treatments involve medication, surgery and therapies such as;

Physical therapyOccupational therapy (helps with daily activities)Speech therapyExercise

Since Parkinson's progresses at different rates and some have it more severely then others, some treatments are more recommended then others.

Treatments Continued

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) This type of treatment implants electrodes in certain

areas in the brain. They produce electrical impulses that help regulate abnormal impulses in the brain.

It is controlled by a stimulator much like a pacemaker that connects to the electrodes in your brain

It is also being studied to treat Tourette's, epilepsy and depression.

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Parkinson’s Australia 2:05-2:28 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3NjNKm0pio

One Year After DBS Surgery 0:00-1:30 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uohp7luuwJI

Areas Affected by Parkinson’s Disease

In a situation such as Parkinson’s disease the substantia nigra is affected which is where the dopamine neurons die off during the disease. The substantia nigra is located in the midbrain near the thalamus and has serious roles which are movement and transmission of dopamine neurons.

In a normal brain the substantia nigra will have all of the dopamine neurons in order for that part of the brain to function correctly

Comparison: Normal Brain vs. Parkinson’s Brain

A brain affected with Parkinson’s disease lacks dopamine neurons

Dopamine is neurotransmitter that is responsible for transmitting the nerve cells of the brain

Another thing that affects the brain is the iron count

Iron is very important in the brain and helps the oxygen transport to the brain

Case Study

This case study of a 55 year old man, shows us the severity of Parkinson’s disease, and the incredible change of DBS surgery.

Case Study Parkinson’s 0:00-3:10https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OqFjBIQSOU

Michael J. Fox is a famous Canadian actor and who has Parkinson’s disease.

True and False

Three signs of Parkinson’s are; tremor, stiffness and nausea.

There is a cure to Parkinson’s disease. The substantia nigra is the part of the brain

that is affected. A person with Parkinson’s disease lacks

dopamine neurons.Most people who develop Parkinson’s are 60

years old or older.