{"id":1160,"date":"2021-03-18T15:26:30","date_gmt":"2021-03-18T15:26:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.summitforstemcell.org\/?page_id=1160"},"modified":"2021-03-30T14:20:47","modified_gmt":"2021-03-30T14:20:47","slug":"what-is-parkinsons-disease-an-overview","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.summitforstemcell.org\/what-is-parkinsons-disease-an-overview\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Parkinson’s disease: an Overview"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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STATISTICS<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u20221 million Americans estimated with PD<\/p>\n

\u202210 million worldwide estimated with PD<\/p>\n

\u2022Approximately 60,000 Americans diagnosed with PD annually.<\/p>\n

\u2022More people have PD than Lou Gehrig\u2019s (ALS), multiple sclerosis, & muscular dystrophy \u2013 combined<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2022PD is second only<\/em> to Alzheimers<\/p>\n

\u2022PD, if left unchecked, will outpace Alzheimers in the near future<\/p>\n

\u2022Men more likely to have PD (1.5 times more likely than women)<\/p>\n

\u2022Average age, 60, at time of diagnosis (risk decreases after age 80).<\/p>\n

\u2022Most cases have no familial link<\/p>\n

\u2022Approximately only 15% of people with PD have a genetic link. The other 85% are idiopathic (have no know cause).<\/p>\n

\u2022Head trauma, concussions & repeated blows increase risk<\/p>\n

\u2022Environmental causes: pesticides & herbicides increase risk<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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ORIGINS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Parkinson’s disease, first described by James Parkinson in the early 19th century, is a neurodegenerative disorder that primarily targets and destroys dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the brain in the the substantia nigra pars compacta. Parkinson\u2019s disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder behind Alzheimer’s disease and affects over 1.5%-2% of the population over the age of 60. There are 60,000 persons in the United States newly<\/em> diagnosed with PD\u00a0annually<\/em>. Currently, in the United States there are approximately 1 million persons with PD and an estimated 10 million people worldwide.<\/p>\n\n

\u200bDopamine neurons in the substantia nigra innervate the striatum, where the neurotransmitter dopamine<\/em> is released. Loss of proper dopamine regulation can lead to multiple symptoms, including motor symptoms (bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, and speech problems) and cognitive decline.<\/p>\n\n

It is estimated that over 80% of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra have already been lost by the time a correct diagnosis is made. While other neurons are involved in PD, the midbrain neurons appear to be the most susceptible to being destroyed, especially early in the disease’s progression. The exact cause of PD is unknown. There are many factors that have been identified as contributors to the possible development of PD, including environmental toxins and genetic susceptibility (in some but not all cases). Even so, the vast majority of \u00a0PD diagnoses are still classified as idiopathic with no known cause<\/em>.\u00a0 At this point in time there is NO CURE for Parkinson\u2019s disease. There is no known way to slow its progression. Thus far, the best answer for slowing the progression of PD is exercise<\/em>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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TREATMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, there is no cure for what we call “Parkinson’s disease” today. However, there are many evidence-based research groups and pharmaceutical companies working on a cure.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There are very effective treatments that help alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease by addressing the loss of dopamine. The mainstay of medical treatment is the use of medication to supplement the brain. There are many different medication options and methods to accomplish this. The need varies from patient to patient, therefore we recommend a discussion with your healthcare provider for an option that best suits your needs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The effectiveness of today’s medications is finite and Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disease. It is important for you to visit your healthcare provider regularly.<\/p>\n

Summit for Stem Cell Foundation supports efforts to change today’s definition of Parkinson’s disease and is working towards tomorrow with A Victory Over Parkinson’s.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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WHAT CAN YOU DO?<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Get informed. As we mentioned, there is great work begin done today for Parkinson’s disease. Talk to your healthcare provider. Be cautious of the information you find on the internet. When surfing the internet, look for evidence based information. (Summit for Stem Cell Foundation is in the process of creating a resource page. In the meantime, we recommend joining a Parkinson’s Support Group or Parkinson’s specific exercise program in your area).<\/p>\n

2. Get connected with people who are experienced in Parkinson’s disease. Your healthcare provider, support groups, family, friends, etc.<\/p>\n

3. Adjust your lifestyle to optimize brain and body health. The healthier you are, the best positioned your brain will be to stay well longer with the disease. Pay attention to: Nutrition, exercise, sleep, mood, and weight. Manage other health conditions you may have – especially those that affect brain health such as hypertension, diabetes, and increased cholesterol.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

STATISTICS \u20221 million Americans estimated with PD \u202210 million worldwide estimated with PD \u2022Approximately 60,000 Americans diagnosed with PD annually. \u2022More people have PD than Lou Gehrig\u2019s (ALS), multiple sclerosis,… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1093,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"yoast_head":"\nWhat is Parkinson's disease: an Overview - Summit for Stem Cell<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.summitforstemcell.org\/what-is-parkinsons-disease-an-overview\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is Parkinson's disease: an Overview - Summit for Stem Cell\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"STATISTICS \u20221 million Americans estimated with PD \u202210 million worldwide estimated with PD \u2022Approximately 60,000 Americans diagnosed with PD annually. \u2022More people have PD than Lou Gehrig\u2019s (ALS), multiple sclerosis,...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.summitforstemcell.org\/what-is-parkinsons-disease-an-overview\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Summit for Stem Cell\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/summit4stemcell\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-03-30T14:20:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.summitforstemcell.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/edited-neurons-bluefire.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2045\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"794\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.summitforstemcell.org\/what-is-parkinsons-disease-an-overview\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.summitforstemcell.org\/what-is-parkinsons-disease-an-overview\/\",\"name\":\"What is Parkinson's disease: an Overview - 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