Parkinson's Disease Life Expectancy

In the Parkinson's disease, degeneration of central nervous system takes place which results into impairment of motor skills of the patient. The disease is categorized as one of the movement disorders and its important signs are tremor, muscle rigidity and bradykinesia. Physical movements slow down considerably in the problem of bradykinesia. Dopaminergic neurons present in brain are responsible for production of dopamine. Reduction in the formation of dopamine leads to decreased stimulation of motor cortex by basal ganglia. It is one of the main Parkinson's disease symptoms.

Life Expectancy of Parkinson's Disease Patients
One can expect people with Parkinson's disease to complete their natural life cycle. In the March 2009 issue of 'Movement Disorders' information regarding life expectancy for patient's of this disease was presented. As per the study published in this issue, the rate of survival of patients after 10 years of diagnosis is same as that of any other normal person. The myths about life expectancy being lowered due to secondary complications have therefore, been debunked. It was also found that even if a person is suffering from Parkinson's disease for 15-20 years the life expectancy is lowered only slightly. The body of the patients suffering from Parkinson's disease starts degenerating. There are chances of decrease in life expectancy of these patients. In many cases, the problems which are not directly related to this disease lead to increase in mortality rates of these patients. Those patients with gait problems are known to have a survival rate that is lower than in the normal case. Another fact that came out of the study ('Movement Disorders', March, 2009) is that Parkinson's disease life expectancy for women is more than that of their male counterparts.

Parkinson's Disease Stages
The Parkinson's disease early symptoms include loss of balance, stiffness in muscles, tremors, etc. One may not know or find it difficult to determine whether these symptoms are actually associated with Parkinson's disease. In the advanced stages however, symptoms are visible clearly. The condition of patient worsens and a wheelchair may be required for movement. A stooped posture along with change in facial expressions is observed in the advanced stage. It becomes difficult to perform routine/ day-to-day activities. In the final stages of Parkinson's disease, patients may develop dementia and it is difficult for them to carry out simple tasks like washing, feeding, etc.

Parkinson's Disease Treatment
The treatment measures used for Parkinson's disease cannot cure it or increase the life expectancy. However, quality of life can be improved to a great extent. The medications being used for treatment of Parkinson's disease help in maintaining optimum levels of dopamine in the brain. Reducing the usage of dopamine is also one way to keep the brain functioning to its best ability. Motor control can be affected if dopamine doses exceed their required levels. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the treatment process keenly.

The facts and information about Parkinson's disease prognosis gained through new research help increase our knowledge about this disease. Finally, one can say that curing the disease is not possible; however, with proper care and medication, one can hope to provide a quality life to these patients.