The best way to deal with any type of progressive disease is to find it early on so that treatment can begin as soon as possible. For people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), this goal may be getting closer.
A new clinical study that looked at 54,000 British citizens with PD, found that there were many symptoms in people who later got PD, years before the diagnosis. These findings show that the damage from PD can cause signs long before the most obvious symptoms occur, which include tremor, rigidity and an awkward gait.
The study was conducted by Dr. Anette Schrag and fellow neurologists at the University College London. It found that as many as 5 years before the diagnosis of PD, those who get the disease may show a number of symptoms, including:
- Balance problems
- Constipation
- Low blood pressure
- Erectile dysfunction
- Dizziness
- Urinary dysfunction
Also, Dr. Claire Henchcliffe, director of the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Institute at Weill Cornell Medical Center, stated that REM sleep behavior problems, which can cause you to act out your dreams as you sleep, is a very strong symptom that could indicated PD is coming down the road.
Dr. Melissa J. Nirenberg, a Parkinson’s disease specialist at New York University Medical Center, stated that as many as 80% of people with this sleep disorder eventually get PD.
More study is still needed to determine who has preclinical PD, but people with several of the risk factors above may want to speak with a neurologist who is an expert in movement disorders. If a medical examination shows it is possible or likely that you will develop PD, you may be able to take part in early therapy that could stop or at least slow down the progression of the disease.
Doctors point out that by the time the patient has developed the classic PD symptoms, the brain’s dopamine cells have been reduced by 50%. The goal of this research is to identify people at risk for PD while their brains still are mostly functional.
Researchers in the study noted that people who have some of the predictive symptoms of PD should adopt healthy exercise and eating habits that may help to keep the disease at bay longer. Whatever exercise appeals to you can help to stave off the disease, and be sure to eat fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and olive oil, all of which are associated with a lower risk of PD.
If you are in the early stages of PD, it is very important for you to take all of your medications on time. Our MED-E-LERT Electronic Medication Reminder will help you to keep your medications on schedule:
