April 9, 2016
Becky Argo knew something was
wrong. Her gait and balance were not the same when she walked. She felt
unsteady and had fallen several times. As a retired psychiatrist and medical
doctor, she knew this was not normal. Yet, it took two more years and several more
falls for her to be diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
She had no tremors, no other signs
typical of the disease. "Parkinson's has affected my life. I used to hike
and do things outdoors," she said. "But now I need to be aware of my
balance and it takes me a while to get moving."
The symptoms of Parkinson's are
diverse, vary from person to person and can include tremors; slowness of
movement; difficulty with balance, swallowing, chewing, speaking or writing;
depression; and mood disorders. Parkinson's is a chronic, progressive
neurological disease diagnosed in an estimated 70,000 people each year in the
U.S.
There is no known cure and
currently no data or registry to determine how many have it. The average age of
diagnosis is 60, but people as young as 18 have been diagnosed.
Diagnosed at age 32, Jennifer
Parkinson began to have symptoms at 30. She had just given birth to her second
child when she noticed her right hand was shaking. She went to her doctor and
they did not know what was wrong with her. Her leg was dragging and she had
trouble walking.
After two years of living with the
symptoms, she decided to see a neurologist and was told she had Parkinson's
disease. She was in shock. Her immediate thought was to get a second opinion
from a movement disorder specialist, who confirmed the diagnosis.
Over time, her symptoms got worse,
causing her to leave her job as a nurse. She credits fitness training boxing
for reducing her symptoms, and she now runs and coaches
"NeuroBoxing," a program that specializes in non-contact training to
fight Parkinson's.
Currently there is no drug to halt
or slow progression of the disease. While the medications that are available
mask some symptoms for a limited period, eventually they lose their
effectiveness, leaving the person unable to move, speak or swallow.
The exact cause of Parkinson's
remains unknown, but researchers believe it involves both genetic and
environmental factors. In 2003, scientists at the National Institutes of Health
discovered that too much of the alpha-synuclein protein may be a cause. This
protein forms a plaque and somehow kills off cells that produce dopamine, a
neurotransmitter chemical affecting movement. More recently, UCLA scientists
discovered pesticides that end up in well water are linked to an increased risk
of Parkinson's.
Larry Roberts, a retired lawyer,
has some theories about how he got the disease. "I grew up near a golf
course that was regularly sprayed with DDT," he said. "I remember the
spraying as a kid." Diagnosed in 1998, he has lived with Parkinson's for
18 years and no longer drives.
For Robert Jenkins, diagnosed at
age 58 after a successful career in sales, the unpredictability of the disease
is frustrating. "Parkinson's disease totally takes away 90 percent of who
you are," he said. "I never know how the medicine will work or if I
will be able to move."
Until we know how many people have
the disease, their ages and if it is increasing, we will not get closer to a
cure. In 2004, California passed the Parkinson's Registry Act, but it was never
funded. Urge your local legislators to fund the registry.
The Parkinson's Action Network, a
nonprofit group of advocates, patients and caregivers seeking better treatments
and a cure, can be reached at www.parkinsonsaction.org. Join us in advocating
for a cure.
Aurora Soriano is the volunteer
assistant state director for the Parkinson's Action Network. In honor of
Parkinson's Awareness Month, she is sharing the stories of people who face this
disease daily. You can email her at forevermao@msn.com.
http://health.einnews.com/article/320688383/P7Yq7_vxoBjsm4_9
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