Can Parkinson's disease be cured?

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on January 02, 2025
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Firstly, it must be noted that Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease which currently cannot be cured. Although Parkinson's disease cannot be cured, there are many methods available to slow the progression of the disease and improve the quality of life for patients. Patients must take medication regularly under the guidance of a doctor. The treatment methods for Parkinson's disease mainly include: First, patients should strengthen their functional training and engage in as much physical activity and exercise as possible, which can help in treating the disease. Second, regular medication is necessary, mainly referring to drugs used for treating Parkinson's disease. These include dopamine receptor agonists, anticholinergic drugs, and Levodopa preparations, all of which can have good effects, but these medications also have certain side effects and require regular follow-up visits at outpatient clinics. (Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Early symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease is a relatively common degenerative disease in the elderly, primarily causing the death of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain, leading to corresponding clinical manifestations. Research has confirmed that other systems may also be damaged in the early stages of Parkinson's disease symptoms. The early symptoms may primarily include: First, patients experience persistent constipation, which is a very important early symptom of Parkinson's disease. Second, some patients may experience sleep disturbances, mainly characterized by tossing and turning, shouting out loud during sleep, without being aware of it. Additionally, some patients in the early stages may also experience a reduced sense of smell, constipation, cognitive impairment, and other clinical manifestations. There are also some early motor symptoms, mainly that the patient becomes clumsy and inflexible in the movements of one side of the body. These are the early symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What is Parkinson's disease gait?

Patients with Parkinson's disease have a distinctive gait; typically, their torso leans forward, and their arms do not move much. When they walk, they exhibit a hurried gait with short, scurrying steps. That is, they take small steps that progressively get faster and faster, making stopping very difficult when they reach their destination. This is a typical scenario often referred to as a "scampering gait." Many experienced doctors can frame a preliminary diagnosis of Parkinson's disease just by observing the patient’s walk. Parkinson's disease also leads to unstable posture and gait, increasing the risk of falls and fractures. Therefore, it's important to take precautions at home by installing handrails to assist the patient in standing and walking, preventing accidental injuries.

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Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
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Initial symptoms of Parkinson's disease

The early symptoms of Parkinson's disease are divided into motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms. The onset of Parkinson's disease is relatively concealed and progresses gradually. The initial symptoms can be tremors, bradykinesia, or rigidity, occurring asymmetrically. It often starts in one upper limb and can initially appear in the lower limbs in a few cases, gradually extending to the limbs on the other side. Non-motor symptoms can occur at any stage of Parkinson's disease, including before motor symptoms arise, such as loss of smell, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, constipation, and depression. These are often precursory symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, but such non-motor symptoms can also appear in other diseases, which can make them difficult to clearly distinguish.

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Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
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What are the symptoms of Parkinson's disease?

The main symptoms of Parkinson's disease are divided into two major categories: motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms. The motor symptoms include bradykinesia and hypokinesia, specifically characterized by slow movement speed and reduced amplitude. In daily life, this results in clumsiness with actions such as difficulty standing up, small arm swings while walking, or even no swinging at all, a lack of facial expressions, and progressively smaller handwriting. The second type is resting tremor, which includes pill-rolling movements along with muscle rigidity and postural and gait imbalances, such as a panicked gait or taking very small steps that accelerate and become faster without the ability to stop or turn promptly. Non-motor symptoms include issues such as olfactory dysfunction, sleep disturbances, constipation, and depression.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Is tremor Parkinson's disease?

Tremor and Parkinson's disease are two completely different concepts. Tremor is not necessarily Parkinson's disease, and Parkinson's disease does not necessarily involve tremor. Tremor is just a clinical symptom that can appear in many diseases. In addition to Parkinson's disease, there are also some essential tremors which are genetic. Patients usually experience tremors in their hands when maintaining certain postures, and may also have head tremors. This is a relatively benign disease with a generally good prognosis. Additionally, patients with hyperthyroidism may also experience limb tremors, but this is not Parkinson's disease. Moreover, many patients with Parkinson's disease experience bradykinesia and rigidity, and might not necessarily have limb tremors. Therefore, these two concepts are different; tremor is not necessarily Parkinson's disease.