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Treatment for Parkinsons Disease



Though Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common degenerative diseases, medical sciences have not been able to find out any effective treatments for it. However, there are several therapies which can be offered to delay the onset of the symptoms and improve quality of life. Almost all therapies are performed to improve the production of dopamine in the brain. This is done by either replacing dopamine or synthetically stimulating the brain to produce dopamine in the brain.

Some of the treatments for Parkinson’s disease include:

  • Levodopa Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease: This is a therapy in which a chemical is administered to the patient. This chemical is converted into dopamine. However, since the treatment also has very unpleasant side effects, it is not given until the motor deterioration is severe.
  • Treatment may also be attempted using chemicals that can mimic dopamine in the body. The doctor may also choose to prescribe medications that prevent the breakdown of dopamine so that more of it is available in the brain.
  • In advanced cases, the doctor may recommend surgery. The doctors attempt deep brain stimulation, which is a surgery in which electrodes are implanted into the brain to mechanically stimulate the areas of the brain, which control movement.  
  • Stem cell therapy is an upcoming area of research and treatment. The dopamine producing cells can be derived from stem cells and used to improve dopamine production naturally.

 


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References
  1. Jay M. Gorell, Edward L. Peterson, Benjamin A. Rybicki, Christine Cole Johnson, Multiple risk factors for Parkinson's disease, Journal of the Neurological Sciences, Volume 217, Issue 2, 15 February 2004, Pages 169-174, ISSN 0022-510X, 10.1016/j.jns.2003.09.014.
  2. J. Pagonabarraga, Parkinson’s Disease: Definition, Diagnosis, and Management, In: Editors-in-Chief:  Katie Kompoliti and Leo Verhagen Metman, Editor(s)-in-Chief, Encyclopedia of Movement Disorders, Academic Press, Oxford, 2010, Pages 405-412, ISBN 9780123741059, 10.1016/B978-0-12-374105-9.00061-7.