Parkinson's and Movement Disorders

Hereditary transmission of vascular Parkinsonism is rare but can happen with cases involving inherited CADASIL (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts) & leukoencephalopathy.

•  Vascular Parkinsonism: reduced blood supply to some parts of the brain. The brain in that part does not function efficiently and causes Parkinson's symptoms.
• Post-traumatic Parkinsonism: Brian tissue damage due to chronic or repetitive brain injury, which results in reduced blood supply to parts of the brain. E.g., boxing.
• Toxin causing Parkinsonism: toxic chemicals which can cause changes to dopamine-releasing parts of the brain. 
• Normal pressure hydrocephalus: this happens when excess CSF causes pressure in parts of the brain 
• Postencephalitic: after encephalitis infection, Brain cells are damaged 
• Atypical Parkinsonism
• Supra nuclear palsy
• Multiple system atrophy
• Alzheimer's.
• Wilson's disease.
• Huntington's disease.

Physical symptoms of Parkinsonism are:

• Muscle stiffness
• Rigid joints
• Tremors
• Imbalance 
• Hunching or stooping
• Inability to walk.

Parkinson's Disease is a progressive neurological disease caused by degeneration of nerve cells in an area in the brain called the substantia nigra. It is a part of the basal ganglia circuit that controls movements. The cells in substantia nigra produces an important chemical called dopamine required for the normal functions of the basal ganglia
circuits which allows us to make the desired type of movements and prevent unwanted movements. 

It is estimated that about 7-10 million people have the disease world - wide and about 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. While the risk of a PD increases with age (average age of onset in the early 60s), around 5-10 percent develop the symptoms before the age of 50 and about 1-2 % have other family members affected by the same condition.

Parkinson's disease is not curable. Parkinson's disease is initially treated with medicines that relieve the symptoms and enable them to function well. Levodopa is the mainstay of treatment of PD and has been used since the 1960s and gives excellent relief in the first 3-5 years of treatment. With the progression of the disease, the beneficial effects of levodopa reduce and the symptoms of patients fluctuate through the day. These motor fluctuations can be a predictable early wearing off, of the benefits of a dose of levodopa which makes it necessary to take more frequent doses. There can be delayed onset of effect of levodopa or a sudden unpredictable loss of effect of levodopa. Levodopa can also induce dyskinesias which appear as involuntary dance - like flowing movements in the neck, trunk, or limbs. These phenomena occur in about 805 of patients during the course of the disease, within 5-10 years of onset of disease. 

The different abnormal movements are shaking (tremor), stiffness of muscles, slowness and loss of balance (together called parkinsonism), twisted postures (dystonia) abrupt jerks (myoclonus), dance-like flowing movements (chorea) and stereotyped rapid jerks and involuntary sounds (tics). Many diseases that produce movement disorders result from degeneration of brain cells in areas controlling movement and do not have an obvious cause or may be due to a genetic change.

These movements can develop as a consequence of injury, infections, inflammation, metabolic disturbances and tumours of the brain or as side effects of certain drugs. Neurologists who are specialists in movement disorders offer diagnosis and treatment for such conditions through dedicated movement disorder clinics.

If you have any strange movements, stiffness, tremors, or balance problems, you should consult a Parkinson's and movement disorders specialist in Kochi at Aster Medcity. Early consultation might result in a more precise diagnosis and more successful treatment of the ailment.

Certainly, managing recovery following surgery can be aided by Parkinson's and movement disorders specialists at Aster Medcity. In order to guarantee that the patient has the best possible outcome, they offer post-operative care plans, track development, and modify therapies to maximise recovery.

Parkinson's and movement disorders specialists at Aster Medcity treat ailments such as ataxia, Huntington's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, Tourette syndrome, and Parkinson's disease. They are adept at treating both typical and uncommon movement problems.

Parkinson's and movement disorders specialists at Aster Medcity employ a range of innovations and technologies, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS), sophisticated imaging methods, neuroprotective therapies, wearable devices for symptom monitoring, and telemedicine for remote consultations and follow-ups.

A neurologist with extra training in the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders is known as a Parkinson's and movement disorders specialist.

Asking a Parkinson's and movement-related illnesses expert about their experience treating your particular illness, the most recent research and treatment choices, and how they will coordinate your care with other healthcare professionals are some important questions to ask.

On your initial appointment, you should bring a thorough medical history, including a list of your current prescriptions and any prior treatments or procedures for the same illness.

Parkinson's and movement disorders specialists at Aster MIMS job is to give their patients complete, individualised care that includes precise diagnosis, customised medication management, collaboration with other medical professionals, and suggestions for therapies and lifestyle changes to enhance the quality of life.

Make a note of your present symptoms and concerns, prepare a thorough medical history, and be prepared to discuss your objectives and expectations for your treatment with a Parkinson's and movement disorders expert before your first appointment.