Sharing a review of the early symptoms and treatment process of Parkinson's disease, which can also appear genetically.

As we move towards a super-aged society, I frequently encounter people suffering from dementia and Parkinson's disease around me. Among my family members, there is someone with Parkinson's disease, so I would like to learn about the early symptoms they are experiencing, the treatment process, and share information on what to watch out for in the future.

 

As people age, it is common to experience various adult diseases or age-related illnesses due to lifestyle habits, environmental factors from their youth, or genetic influences.

In our country, as we move beyond an aging society to a super-aged society, the growth rate of the elderly population is increasing.

As a result, I tend to see more elderly people around than children.

One characteristic of the elderly is that most of them have various physical ailments.

 

I believe the most representative diseases among these are dementia and Parkinson's disease.

As people age, they often experience a decline in memory and occasional forgetfulness, which is sometimes dismissed as mere forgetfulness, but in some cases can develop into dementia.

 

In the case of Parkinson's disease, early symptoms are often dismissed as minor signs that appear during the aging process, which can lead to missing the early stage. It is said that the initial few years of onset can be overlooked and passed by without notice.

 

I believe that early detection of any disease is important because it leads to better treatment outcomes, prognosis, and slower progression, so even minor symptoms should not be ignored and should be carefully observed.

For that reason, I will discuss the early symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that often presents with a variety of symptoms.

The most common early symptoms of Parkinson's disease are tremors in the hands and feet and abnormal movements.

In the early stages of Parkinson's disease, tremors only appear when at rest, but as the disease progresses, tremors occur with every movement.

They say that as symptoms worsen, delicate tasks become more difficult and even walking becomes challenging.

In addition, there are increasing cases of complaints of depression, and some also experience sleep disturbances and urinary problems.

 

Therefore, it is important to carefully observe early warning signs and diagnose Parkinson's disease at an early stage.

More than 90% of patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease experience a decline in olfactory function, which is said to be one of the early warning signs that appears years before the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.

 

Since the risk of developing Parkinson's disease is ten times higher in individuals with anosmia compared to healthy individuals, it is recommended to regularly check both motor function and olfactory function.

 

Another non-motor symptoms include constipation or depression.

I believe that sudden emotional changes should also be carefully observed, especially since many patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease a few years ago are now complaining of depression or anxiety.

 

In the case of my family, despite taking brain supplements and paying attention due to severe forgetfulness, most of the early symptoms were mistaken for aging, so proper response was not made. As a result, the Parkinson's disease was already quite advanced before an accurate diagnosis was made, and the progression is now accelerating quite rapidly.

 

Additionally, I received a diagnosis from medical staff that I must absolutely quit alcohol and cigarettes.

However, when I meet with acquaintances, having a drink each time is fun, so I regret more that I haven't been able to change my lifestyle habits.

 

In the case of Parkinson's disease, since the exact cause has not been identified, it is recommended to maintain a healthy lifestyle considering both genetic and environmental factors. However, as people age, it becomes difficult to change such lifestyle habits.

 

I believe Parkinson's disease is an age-related illness that anyone can experience.

However, I believe that by maintaining healthy lifestyle habits and paying close attention to changes in one's body and emotions, early signs of Parkinson's disease can be detected.