Parkinson's disease is a condition where early detection is very important.

Due to rapid aging, Parkinson's disease is a condition with a rapidly increasing number of patients alongside dementia and stroke. The number of patients has increased by 1.5 times over the past 10 years, and it is highly likely that the number of patients will continue to grow in line with the aging trend.

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative brain disorder, and since it is difficult to restore lost brain cells, experts advise slowing the progression of symptoms through exercise and appropriate treatment. The disease is named after British doctor James Parkinson, who first described it, and his birthday, April 11th, has been designated as 'World Parkinson's Day.'

 

According to the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service on the 14th, the number of Parkinson's disease patients increased by approximately 49% over about 10 years, from 84,333 in 2014 to 125,526 in 2023. Among them, elderly patients aged 65 and over number 116,723 (as of 2023). This means that 93 out of 100 are elderly.

Director Park Jung-hoon of the Neurology Department at Incheon Himchan General Hospital predicted that "the number of patients will increase even more as Korean society enters a super-aged society." Korea is the fastest aging country, having entered an aging society (with 7% or more of the population aged 65 or older) in 2000, and just over 24 years later, at the beginning of last year, it entered a super-aged society (with 20% or more of the population aged 65 or older). This is 11 years ahead of Japan, which was the fastest before, taking 35 years.

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder characterized by motor impairments caused by a decrease in dopamine-producing dopamine neurons. The exact cause has not yet been identified. It is estimated that genetic and environmental factors interact to cause the disease.

The initial symptoms are forgetfulness, sleep disturbances, and urinary problems. Since these are common symptoms experienced by the elderly, it is easy to overlook Parkinson's disease. The characteristic symptoms include bradykinesia, which is a slowing of movement, and rigidity, which is muscle stiffness. When walking, one may drag one leg or take short steps, resulting in a shuffling gait. Hand and foot tremors are severe when at rest, but tend to diminish or disappear when moving. In addition, depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, orthostatic hypotension, and constipation can also occur. Professor Yudalra of the Department of Neurology at Kyunghee University Hospital said, "Most of these symptoms appear gradually and in combination, making it easy to mistake them for normal aging," and added, "If suspicious symptoms persist, it is necessary to visit a hospital for diagnosis."

Parkinson's disease treatment focuses on slowing the progression of symptoms because there is no way to restore lost brain cells. Professor Yoo explained, "The goal of treatment is to alleviate the progression of symptoms through exercise or to reduce discomfort with medication or surgery."

In medication treatment, specific substances such as levodopa, which is converted into dopamine in the body, are used, along with dopamine agonists that have similar effects, dopamine breakdown inhibitors, and dopamine release stimulants. These are used to alleviate symptoms caused by the reduction of dopamine nerve cells.

However, the effects of medication treatment do not last forever. After the 5 to 7-year period known as the "honeymoon phase," the duration of the medication's effectiveness gradually shortens, and involuntary movements called dyskinesia appear without the patient's awareness.

The method considered at this time is Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). DBS involves inserting electrodes into specific areas of the brain and sending electrical impulses to regulate neural functions. It is recommended to undergo surgery before the middle stage, which is classified as stage 3 according to the Hoehn and Yahr scale, a classification system that divides Parkinson's disease symptoms into five stages. Characteristics of the middle stage include instability when standing up from a chair or turning the body, and impairment of the righting reflex. The righting reflex refers to the body's attempt to correct itself when it deviates from a normal vertical posture.

It is also necessary to combine physical therapy. Parkinson's disease patients may experience joint contractures causing limbs to stiffen or twist, and muscle pain or back pain can occur during medication treatment. Physical therapy helps to loosen stiff joints and muscles, correct posture, train walking, and improve breathing, which can aid in symptom improvement. Relying solely on medication without exercise can lead to a decrease in muscle mass, reduced strength, and impaired motor function, making symptoms worsen more rapidly.

There are several ways to practice in daily life. Stretching and aerobic exercises such as walking, jogging, and swimming, which involve maintaining a movement for 10 to 15 seconds, help alleviate symptoms. Consistently doing facial muscle exercises like frowning and puffing out the cheeks can also prevent facial muscle paralysis.

Patients experiencing drug resistance or extrapyramidal symptoms should ideally consume protein-rich foods such as meat and fish separately from medication times. This is because protein intake can interfere with drug absorption. However, restricting protein intake may lead to muscle loss, so caution is advised.

Professor Jang Il, Neurosurgery at Catholic University Incheon St. Mary's Hospital Brain Hospital, emphasized, "Parkinson's disease is a condition where early treatment can slow disease progression," and added, "Once diagnosed, do not neglect it; active treatment is necessary." Director Park also advised, "Since the incidence rate doubles in the presence of metabolic syndrome, it is also important to consistently manage conditions like diabetes and hypertension."

 

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Parkinson's disease, which increases by 49% over 10 years, is more likely to occur in elderly people.

 

It is also a disease that can be commonly seen around us.

 

It's not something to overlook casually. Since early detection can slow the progression of the disease, prevention is also important.

 

It's also important to recognize the early symptoms and understand their significance~ Fighting for a healthy life~