Chemical changes in the Brain
In Parkinson’s disease (PD) there is slow and progressive loss and deterioration of nerve cells of the brain especially those involved with regulation and control of movements.
In a healthy person, an adequate amount of dopamine (a chemical messenger present in the body) is present in substantia nigra (an area of cluster of nerve cells in the brain). Normally, dopamine is carried by the nerve cells from this area to another cluster of nerve cells known as the corpus striatum where these nerves terminate. Here, along with dopamine, acetylcholine, another chemical messenger, regulates the bodily movements.
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Understanding Parkinson’s disease
The biggest single risk factor associated with contracting Parkinson’s disease is old age; men also stand a higher chance of it than do women. Family history is also another factor particularly when a first generation family member has the disease, if this family member is a parent or sibling then chances are estimated to double for yourself to developing the disease. It is thought that this increased risk is due to a number of factors including genetic and environmental which close relations have in common.
The one single factor which has been most consistently associated with a reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease is smoking, the exact reasons for this has never been determined but smoking does seem to offer some protection against developing Parkinson’s disease. However the negative effects that smoking has on our health far outweighs the benefit of not developing Parkinson’s from smoking, it should by no means be considered as a way of preventing the disease. (more…)
Understanding Parkinson’s disease
Millions of people throughout the world suffer every year from chronic allergies; these can be allergies from their pets, to dust and spores. A recent study has shown that these people who suffer from chronic allergies are up to three times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease at some time in their life.
Sufferers of allergic rhinitis which is an allergy in which the sufferer seems to have a permanent cold appear to be at much greater risk of developing Parkinson’s. The research conducted gathered information which showed a link to conditions which cause inflammation and breakdown of brain cells and found a decidedly big increase in cell death in people suffering from rhinitis. (more…)
