April 11 marks the 26th World Parkinson’s Day.
Speaking of Parkinson’s disease, many people may feel familiar with the world boxing champion Ali. , my country’s famous mathematician Chen Jingrun and others have suffered from Parkinson’s disease; TV dramas also often show the elderly suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
Since 1997, the European Parkinson’s Disease Federation has determined that April 11th of each year is < /span>World Parkinson’s Disease Day.
What is Parkinson’s ?
Parkinson’s disease, commonly known as “Shaking Disease”. It is a common degenerative disease of the central nervous system in the middle-aged and elderly, mainly caused by the selective and progressive degeneration and death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra-striatal system, and the imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain (decreased dopamine). , increased acetylcholine), patients have a series of motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms, which brings a serious economic burden to the family and society.
Patients with Parkinson’s disease in my country
China may become Parkinson’s disease The world’s largest country in terms of sick population. With such a large number of sick people, the burden on families and society is unimaginable.
According to statistics, there are more than 2 million Parkinson’s disease patients in China, accounting for about 50% of the world’s total . With the advent of an aging society, the number of patients with Parkinson’s disease is increasing year by year. The prevalence of Parkinson’s disease in my country has reached 1.7%, and the prevalence of elderly people over 75 years old is as high as 10%, but about 48% of patients have People do not realize that they are sick. The delayed treatment rate of early Parkinson’s disease is as high as 60%. Parkinson’s disease has become the “third killer” of middle-aged and elderly people after tumors and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
What are the risk factors for Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic disease. Most patients have a disease course of more than ten years and require lifelong treatment. Due to the gradual aggravation of symptoms, there is currently no complete cure, so the main goal of treatment is to improve the quality of life of patients. To this end, treatment methods also need to be considered from multiple perspectives, including drugs, surgery, functional rehabilitation, psychology, nutrition, etc., often requiring the joint participation of multiple disciplines.
Aging: The older you are, the higher your risk of Parkinson’s disease.
Genetic factors: Parkinson’s disease tends to cluster in families, families with Parkinson’s disease patients, their relatives The incidence is higher than that of the normal population.
Environmental factors: MPTP, herbicides (paraquat, methamidophos), well water, paint, glue Chronic exposure, such as exposure, also affects dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain.
Treatment of Parkinson’s disease
Medical therapy is currently the mainstay of Parkinson’s disease The patient’s primary treatment handDuan, the principle of treatment is based on the dopamine theory. People with Parkinson’s disease do not have enough dopamine in the brain due to a decrease in the nerve cells (also called neurons) that have the ability to produce dopamine.
between neurons The communication between cells is completed through the contact structure (synapse) between cells, and the information transmission between synapses relies on transmitters as a stepping stone. If there is no knock on the door, the door cannot be opened, the signal cannot be transmitted, and the instruction issued by the previous neuron cannot be executed.
However, due to this Due to the characteristics of continuous progression of the disease, the frequency, dose, and type of medication taken by patients gradually increase. At a certain stage, the ideal control effect can no longer be achieved, and drug-related complications will occur. At this point, some patients may be considered for surgery.
Currently The more common method is to place a tiny electrode, commonly known as a “brain pacemaker (DBS)”, in the relevant lesion of the brain.
Brain pacemaker, technical term deep brain stimulation (DBS), is a medical device used to treat Parkinson’s disease through neuromodulation technology. DBS therapy is regarded as the “second honeymoon period” for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease patients by domestic experts and scholars in the field of neuroscience due to its advantages of minimally invasive, high safety, clear curative effect, and reversible adjustment.
Be a Happy Parkinson’s Patient
As described in Michael.okun’s book “Secrets to a Happy Parkinson’s Disease”:
“ After the diagnosis, each patient slowly walks into a road full of slow walking and tremor symptoms. The doctor and patient walk all the way, and the patient’s journey also becomes the doctor’s journey.
Every patient is a brave individual, Their lives are defined by their core values, not by their disease. ”
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Function Shenwai Liaoning Center is willing to go hand in hand with you on the road of health,
< strong>We cooperate with Liaoning Provincial People’s Hospital to treat Parkinson’s disease, Meijer’s syndrome, trigeminal nerve disease, pediatric cerebral palsy and other neurological diseases.
If you are fortunate enough to be able to help you, please do not hesitate to let me know and leave a message on the public account.
“Functional Neurology Liaoning Center” and “Liaoning Provincial People’s Hospital Neurological Center” “Second Department of Surgery”, allowing domestic authoritative experts in functional neurosurgery of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association to enter Liaoning, and is willing to provide more, better and better services for Liaoning patients!