Parkinson's Disease
ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY
ANATOMY of PARKINSON'S
Parkinsons disease comes from the degeneration of the basal ganglia, along with damage to the dopamine-producing cells of the substantia nigra. With the cells of the substantia nigra slowing dying off, less and less dopamine is made. With less dopamine than normal, there is less dopamine than acetylcholine in the brain. This imbalance causes the low muscle function and motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
PHYSIOLOGY of PARKINSON'S
Because Parkinson's is a neurodegentive disease, the number of cells lost is constantly growing. As time progresses and the stages below are reached the muscle function continues to decrease. Along with decreased muscular ability, the body becomes stiff and slow moving. Speech can be slurred as well as facial expressions becoming nonexistant. (MayoClinic)
STAGES of PARKINSON'S
Stage One:
During this initial phase of the disease, a person usually experiences mild symptoms, such as tremors or shaking in a limb. During this stage, changes caused by Parkinson's can be detected, such as poor posture, loss of balance, and abnormal facial expressions.
Stage Two:
In the second stage of Parkinson's disease, the person's symptoms are bilateral, affecting both limbs and both sides of the body. The person usually encounters problems walking or maintaining balance, and the inability to complete normal physical tasks becomes more apparent.
Stage Three:
Stage three symptoms of Parkinson's disease can be rather severe and include the inability to walk straight or to stand. There is a noticeable slowing of physical movements in stage three.
Stage Four:
This stage of the disease is accompanied by severe symptoms. Walking may still occur, but it is often limited, and rigidity and bradykinesia -- a slowing of movement -- are often visible. During this stage, most patients are unable to complete day-to-day tasks, and usually cannot live on their own. The tremors or shakiness of the earlier stages of the disease, however, may lessen or become non-existent for unknown reasons during this time.
Stage Five:
In the last or final stage of Parkinson's disease, the person is usually unable to take care of himself or herself and may not be able to stand or walk. A person at stage five usually requires constant one-on-one nursing care.
(WebMD)
