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How Parkinson’s disease affects the brain – and what you can do about it

Most people know that Parkinsonu2019s disease is a neurological disorder that affects movement, but few know what it actually is. Dr. VK Jain, a well-known neurosurgeon in India, explains that Parkinsonu2019s is caused by the loss of nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine. This chemical helps to regulate movement and balance. When these cells die, the brain can no longer send the correct signals to the muscles, leading to tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with movement. There is currently no cure for Parkinsonu2019s disease,but there are treatments available that can help improve quality of life.

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How Parkinson’s disease affects the brain – and what you can do about it

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  1. HowParkinson’sdiseaseaffects the brain–andwhatyoucan doaboutit • Mostpeopleknowthat Parkinson’sdisease isaneurologicaldisorderthataffectsmovement,but fewknow whatitactuallyis.Dr.VK Jain, a well-knownneurosurgeonin India,explainsthat Parkinson’sis causedbytheloss ofnerve cellsinthe brain thatproducedopamine.Thischemical helpsto regulate movementand balance.Whenthesecellsdie, thebrain can nolongersendthe correctsignals to the muscles,leadingtotremors,stiffness,and difficultywithmovement.Thereis currentlynocurefor Parkinson’sdisease,but therearetreatments availablethatcanhelpimprove quality oflife. • What are the symptoms of Parkinson's disease? • Themostcommonsymptomsare: • Tremor • Rigidity • Slownessofmovement • Difficultywithbalance • These symptomstypically developgraduallyandworsenovertime.Othercommonsymptoms include: • Depression • Anxiety • Apathy • Sleepproblems • Constipation • Fatigue • How is Parkinson'sdiseasediagnosed? • Thereis no one testtodiagnose Parkinson'sdisease.Parkinson'sisdiagnosed through acombination ofmedicalhistory,physicalexamination,and neurological testing.There isnoonetestthatcan definitivelydiagnoseParkinson's,sodoctorsoftenuse avarietyof teststorule outotherconditions and confirm the diagnosis. MRI and PET scans may be used to look for changes in the brain that are characteristicofParkinson's.

  2. What are the treatments for Parkinson's disease? There isno one definitiveanswerto thisquestion as thetreatmentsfor Parkinson'sdisease(PD) will varydepending ontheindividual case.In general,however,PDpatientscanexpecttoreceive a combinationofmedication and surgeryastreatmentoptions. Medicationis typicallythefirstline ofdefenseagainst PD,andtherearea varietyofdifferentdrugs thatcan beusedtomanagethe symptomsof the disease.However, asPD progresses, many patients find thatmedicationbecomes less effectiveatcontrollingtheirsymptoms.Thisiswhensurgerymay beconsidered asan option. Thereareafew differenttypes ofsurgerythathavebeenshowntobeeffectivein treatingPD,and which typeis bestfor aparticular patientwill dependontheindividual case. Onesucheffectivesurgery isDeepbrainstimulation(DBS).DBSisa surgicalprocedurethat involves implantationofamedicaldevicecalledabrainpacemaker, which sends electricalimpulses to specificareasinthebrain. DBSisusedtotreata varietyofneurologicalconditions,including Parkinson'sdisease,essentialtremor,dystonia, andObsessive-CompulsiveDisorder(OCD). DBS is considered a safe and effective treatment option for many patients with neurological conditionswhohavenotrespondedwellto othertreatments.Therisksand side effectsofDBSare typicallymildand reversible. Ifyouor someone you knowhasbeendiagnosedwithaneurologicalcondition,talkto anexpertneurosurgeon inIndialikeDr.VKJain, whohasarich experiencein treatingsuch diseases. CanParkinson'sdiseasebe prevented? There isnocertainanswer,buttherearesome thingsthatmayhelp loweryourrisk. Aging isthebiggest riskfactorfor Parkinson'sdisease.Thisdiseaseismore common inpeople over agegroupof60. So,one waytoloweryourriskisto stayhealthy and activeasyouage. Exerciseisalsothought to beprotectiveagainstParkinson'sdisease.Studieshavefoundthatpeople who exerciseregularlyhavealowerriskofthedisease.So, makesuretogetplenty of exercise throughoutyourlife.

  3. Inconclusion,Parkinson'sdiseaseisaprogressivedisorder thataffects thebrain andcentralnervous system.Thecause of Parkinson'sisunknown,butitis believedtobe acombination ofgeneticand environmentalfactors. Thereisnocurefor Parkinson's,buttherearetreatments availableto help managethesymptoms.Ifyouorsomeoneyou knowhasParkinson'sdisease,besureto talkto a doctor about thebestcourse oftreatment. Dr.VKJainisthe most trustedneurosurgeon inIndia for Parkinson'sdisease.He hasbeentreating patients with this condition for over 41 years. Dr. Jain is an expert in the use of these treatments, and hashelped manypatientsmanagetheirconditionand improvetheir lives.Consulthimtodayif youoryourlovedoneissuffering from Parkinson'sdisease.

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