Avoiding falls with Parkinson’s disease
This article discusses the effects of Parkinson’s on balance and offers practical advice on how to avoid falls and maintain mobility.
One Day in Parkinsons Life
A detailed analysis of the different Parkinson’s subtypes, including idiopathic Parkinson’s disease, multisystem atrophy (MSA) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
Parkinson’s disease is one of the most commonly diagnosed neurodegenerative diseases in the world, but it is far more complex than many people realise. While the majority of people associate the disease with tremors and muscle stiffness, there are different subtypes of Parkinson’s disease, each with different symptoms and progression. Understanding these subtypes is crucial to making the correct diagnosis and developing personalised treatment plans.
In this article, I will highlight the different forms of Parkinson’s and their respective differences. From idiopathic Parkinson’s disease to atypical Parkinson’s syndromes and genetic variants, each form brings its own challenges.
Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (also known as Parkinson’s disease) is the most common form of the disease. The term “idiopathic” means that the exact cause of the disease is unknown. In contrast to the genetic variants or atypical Parkinson’s syndromes, there is no clearly identifiable cause for the idiopathic form.
Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive disease. This means that the symptoms get worse over time, but the progression can progress at different rates for each patient. Through the use of medication, such as levodopa, and therapeutic approaches, many of the symptoms can be controlled for years, even if the disease is not curable.
In my experience with people suffering from idiopathic Parkinson’s disease, I have found that the symptoms often start gradually and increase over the years. Many sufferers report that they only feel a slight tremor at first, but this slowly spreads to other parts of the body. It is important to seek medical advice early on to diagnose the disease and start treatment.
In contrast to idiopathic Parkinson’s disease, there are a number of so-called atypical Parkinson’s syndromes, which have similar symptoms but vary greatly in their course and treatment. These subtypes are often more difficult to treat and the prognosis is worse in many cases.
Multisystem atrophy (MSA) is a rare, rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease that combines motor symptoms of Parkinson’s with autonomic dysfunction. Autonomic dysfunction affects vital functions such as blood pressure regulation, respiration and digestion.
MSA progresses much faster than idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. Life expectancy after diagnosis is usually around 7 to 10 years. There is currently no cure and the available treatment options focus on symptom relief.
In my encounters with MSA patients, I have seen time and again how distressing the autonomic symptoms can be. It is not only the physical impairment caused by the Parkinson’s-like symptoms, but also the loss of control over basic bodily functions that significantly restricts quality of life.
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is another form of atypical Parkinson’s syndrome. It affects the ability to move the eyes, which leads to falls and problems with walking.
PSP progresses relatively quickly and the prognosis is worse than with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. The disease typically progresses rapidly within 5 to 10 years of diagnosis.
A close family friend suffered from PSP and I remember the difficulties he had with balance and coordination. The frequent falls bothered him more than the motor symptoms. It shows how different the effects of the different Parkinson’s subtypes can be.
Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) is a rare and severe form of atypical Parkinson’s syndrome. It usually only affects one side of the body and leads to severe motor impairments.
CBD progresses rapidly and leads to severe disability within a few years. Treatment options are limited and focus on symptom relief.
I have met some patients with CBD who have spoken about the difficulty with movement and the inability to perform simple tasks. The asymmetry of symptoms makes everyday life particularly challenging as one side of the body often becomes almost completely immobile.
Around 15% of Parkinson’s cases are genetic. Mutations in certain genes, such as SNCA, LRRK2 and PARK2, have been identified as risk factors for the development of Parkinson’s disease. These genetic variants often occur in younger patients and sometimes have a more aggressive course.
The symptoms of genetic Parkinson’s variants are largely similar to those of the idiopathic form, but there are some differences in the severity and course of the disease.
In conversations with patients who have been diagnosed with a genetic variant of Parkinson’s, I have often experienced a deep concern about the inheritance potential of the disease. Many of these patients report that they are worried about their children and hope that research will soon offer better prevention options.
Parkinson’s is not just a single disease, but a collective term for various clinical pictures that have different symptoms and courses. While idiopathic Parkinson’s disease is the best-known form, there are many other subtypes that are often more difficult to diagnose and treat.
A deeper understanding of the different subtypes allows physicians to create customised treatment plans that are appropriate to the symptoms and progression of the disease. It is important for patients and their families to know the differences so that they can better adapt to the respective challenges.
Whether idiopathic Parkinson’s disease, multisystem atrophy or a genetic variant, each subtype requires individualised management and care. There is still a lot of work to be done, but advances in research give hope that better treatment options will be available for all forms of Parkinson’s in the future.
This article discusses the effects of Parkinson’s on balance and offers practical advice on how to avoid falls and maintain mobility.
A detailed look at the different stages of Parkinson’s disease and how sufferers can prepare for each stage to maintain their quality of life.
This article explains how patients and relatives can prepare for the advanced stages of Parkinson’s and what care options are available.
An insight into the factors that influence the progression of Parkinson’s disease and how those affected can slow down the progression of the disease.
A discussion of the emotional impact of Parkinson’s, particularly depression and anxiety, and strategies to overcome these challenges.
This article highlights autonomic symptoms such as digestive and bladder problems in Parkinson’s and gives practical tips to improve quality of life.
