Parkinson Research

Parkinson Disease

Characteristics:

1)   Parkinson`s disease most commonly affects older adults (above     60), but this disease it can appear at a younger age. The causes of the disease are uncertain, though genetics are thought to influence the occurrence. There are currently no cures for Parkinson's disease; however, treatments like drugs and therapy may help to relieve some symptoms and improve the quality of life for sufferers. The level of decline is different with each individual, and is progressive. Parkinson's disease results from the death of dopamine-generating cells in the substantia nigra, a region of the midbrain; the cause of this cell death is unknown.

Why Parkinson occur?:

2)   Parkinson's disease is a disease of unknown origin, characterized by loss of central nervous system neurons that produce dopamine, which is a substance that mediates neuronal transmission in the central nervous system. It affects both men and women. Sometimes appears as a depressed mood, while the sick person or his family can see a psychiatrist, but more often, the disease begins with tremor or rigidity

Parkinson symptoms:

3- -Tremor: Your tremor, or shaking, usually begins in your limb, often your hand or fingers.

-Slowed movement (bradykinesia): Over time, Parkinson's disease may reduce your ability to move and slow your movement 

-Loss of automatic movements: In Parkinson's disease, you may have a decreased ability to perform unconscious movements, including blinking, smiling or swinging your arms when you walk.

   4- Treatment or Therapy that can use a patient (Alt. Medicine):

-Vitamin E helps in the production of red blood cells (oxygen carrying cells).

 -As an antioxidant, it protects your membranes from damage caused by free radicals (unstable molecules in the body).

-It helps proper function and growth.

-It works as a "blood thinner."

This medicine take over 5 or 6 months to do effect, and it is needed to take the pill of vitamin “E” all days, one in the morning and the other in the night.

5- Possibilities of recovery:

In Parkinson, there are no possibilities of recover, is a permanent disease, but you can decrease the disease by having pills and vitamins.

    6- Remedies that a patient can take:

The optimal combination of treatments depends upon the person, symptoms, age and the severity of the disease. There are six types of medications available to treat symptoms; The Levodopa, Dopamine, Agonists, inhibitors of enzymes that inactivate dopamine, anticholinergic and Amantadine.

   

7- What are the costs involved:

Costs associated whit a disease include both direct and indirect costs. Researches recently determined that the direct costs of Parkinson are, 16.634 dollars per person, per year, for people who are covered by both medicate and a private insurance policy.

8- Do health programs in Chile cover this treatment?

In Chile exist a program of the government called Auge-Ges, that cover 69 diseases and Parkinson is number 62 in the list. This program consists that any person that belong to the public system (Fonasa) or private system of health (Isapre) and have this disease can use it. But is necessary go to a specific place indicated by the program of health that you have (public or Private). In others countries like New Zeland, all people that born in the country have access free health. In Australia the treatment of Parkinson is similar with Chile but only because the places assigned for the treatment are free. And in this country all diseases are covered by the government.