Parkinson’s disease is a chronic disease that happens when “specific groups of brain cells called neurons are slowly and progressively injured, then selectively degenerate or die”. This condition is called neurodegeneration. The cells in the brain stem- substantia nigra- no longer produce the chemical dopamine, a neurotransmitter that carries messages to the body that directs motor movement. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder in which as years go by the signs and symptoms worsens.
Usually symptoms appear when 80 percent of the affected cells died and about five to ten years of illness the symptoms may become severe enough to disrupt daily life (Maryland 2008). The progression of the disease, however, varies from individual to individual, but all of them, in one stage or another, faces daily challenge of motor and autonomic dysfunction, cognitive impairment, psychiatric and sleep disturbances and behavioral and other problems. This paper will focus on the different effects that Parkinson imposed on the daily life of persons afflicted with the disease.
Particularly, it will discuss its effects on the motor skills, cognitive ability, psychiatric mood, autonomic functions as well as sleep, and behavioral and other problems. II. Effects of Parkinson’s Disease to an Individual A. Motor skills dysfunction The most common and earliest symptom of Parkinson disease is mild tremor which can began in a hand, although in some rare cases it could be the a foot or the jaw that is affected first.
Tremor is usually felt when the hand is resting or when the person is under stress. Another early symptom would be the slowing down of movement and the inability to make automatic movement. This condition is termed “bradykinesia”. For example, the person may notice that his his handwriting is slow or that it takes him sometime (lasting to several hours) to get out of the chair, wash the dishes or get dress. Bradykinesia is very frustrating for it transforms even a very simple, quick and easy daily task into a difficult one.
Moreover, the person may also display an unusually blank stare (without blinking) or expressionless face, called “masked face” (“Parkinson’s 2008; Maryland 2008). As the years passed, trembling or tremors increases making it hard for the afflicted to hold utensils or read a newspaper. Postural instability also becomes a daily problem. The person loses his balance so that he frequently falls. Moreover, motor skills become even more impaired, causing stiffness or rigidity.
The arm may move in an abnormal rigid manner, with a short, jerky movement called “cogwheel” rigidity. The arms resistance to movement is best notice when a person tries to move it, just like in a case when he undergoes a neurological exam. The person also experiences muscled cramps and performs twisting and repetitive movements (dystonia). He also experiences a “frozen’ shoulder or numbness which makes him unable to initiate or continue whatever he was doing.
Freezing may start in one side of the body but at a much later time, both sides may become rigid although often one side is more severely affected than the other. There is also the problem of difficulty in swallowing or chewing. Also, the person develops the noticeable Parkinson gait, characterized by the tendency to lean forward when walking, accompanied with a small quick steps as if hurrying forward and the inability to swing the arms as fully as a normal person would. This condition causes a stooped posture and droopy shoulders (“Parkinson’s” 2008).