The clinical symptoms of Parkinson's disease

The clinical symptoms of Parkinson's disease

2016 | Sigurlaug Sveinbjornsdottir
This review discusses the clinical features of Parkinson's disease (PD), including both motor and non-motor symptoms, as well as major treatment strategies and their complications. PD is a progressive, multi-system neurodegenerative disorder affecting mainly older adults, with increasing prevalence worldwide. The disease is characterized by the formation of Lewy bodies in the brain, and its progression is divided into six neuropathological stages. Motor symptoms include bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, and gait disturbances, while non-motor symptoms encompass autonomic dysfunction, sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment, and psychiatric symptoms. Treatment with dopaminergic drugs, such as levodopa, is symptomatic and aims to manage motor symptoms, but can lead to complications like dyskinesias. Surgical options like deep brain stimulation are available for selected patients. Non-motor symptoms often precede motor symptoms and may delay diagnosis. PD also leads to various sensory and autonomic issues, including olfactory dysfunction, constipation, and urinary problems. The disease significantly impacts quality of life, leading to dependency and increased mortality risk. Despite advances in treatment, PD remains a complex condition with no effective disease-modifying therapies. The review highlights the importance of early diagnosis and management of both motor and non-motor symptoms to improve patient outcomes.This review discusses the clinical features of Parkinson's disease (PD), including both motor and non-motor symptoms, as well as major treatment strategies and their complications. PD is a progressive, multi-system neurodegenerative disorder affecting mainly older adults, with increasing prevalence worldwide. The disease is characterized by the formation of Lewy bodies in the brain, and its progression is divided into six neuropathological stages. Motor symptoms include bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, and gait disturbances, while non-motor symptoms encompass autonomic dysfunction, sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment, and psychiatric symptoms. Treatment with dopaminergic drugs, such as levodopa, is symptomatic and aims to manage motor symptoms, but can lead to complications like dyskinesias. Surgical options like deep brain stimulation are available for selected patients. Non-motor symptoms often precede motor symptoms and may delay diagnosis. PD also leads to various sensory and autonomic issues, including olfactory dysfunction, constipation, and urinary problems. The disease significantly impacts quality of life, leading to dependency and increased mortality risk. Despite advances in treatment, PD remains a complex condition with no effective disease-modifying therapies. The review highlights the importance of early diagnosis and management of both motor and non-motor symptoms to improve patient outcomes.
Reach us at info@futurestudyspace.com