World Parkinson’s Day is observed on April 11, with the aim of raising public awareness about this neurodegenerative disease that affects millions of people worldwide.
What Is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative, progressive, and chronic condition of the nervous system characterized by severe neurological damage, leading to impaired control and coordination of body movements, as well as muscle stiffness.
The condition develops when the cells in the brain responsible for producing dopamine—a neurotransmitter that regulates movement—stop producing it, which ultimately triggers the disease.
Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, after Alzheimer’s. Symptoms appear gradually, affecting certain parts of the body such as the hands, arms, legs, and face. It then spreads throughout the body, causing muscle stiffness, tremors, and problems with balance and coordination.
Parkinson’s by the Numbers
Here are some interesting facts about Parkinson’s disease:
- According to the World Health Organization, Parkinson’s disease affects 1 in every 100 people over the age of 60.
- Between 20% and 40% of patients experience depression as an early symptom of Parkinson’s.
- Some American scientists note that vitamin K2 supplementation in Parkinson’s patients improves electron transport, mitochondrial activity, and energy production.
- It is estimated that by 2030 there will be approximately 12 million people with Parkinson’s disease.
- A recent study conducted by McGill University in Canada found that caffeine reduces motor problems in people with Parkinson’s disease.
- The European Parkinson’s Disease Association (EPDA) estimates that more than 6 million people worldwide currently have Parkinson’s disease.
- This condition is typically diagnosed around the ages of 55 to 60, although it sometimes occurs at other ages.
Treatments and New Advances in Parkinson’s Disease
Treatments for this disease help alleviate, to some extent, the progressive deterioration that occurs in patients with Parkinson’s.
These treatments involve physical exercises designed to improve motor function, helping to manage stiffness, posture, and balance, thereby enabling patients to achieve a greater degree of independence.
Psychotherapy, speech therapy, and music therapy have yielded very positive results.
It is also worth noting a study currently underway in Spain, in which participants undergo a therapy that stimulates movement using virtual reality. Through the use of a headset and a video game, patients can be helped to practice movement while controlling and monitoring the brain’s electrical impulses.
