Research Paper on Parkinson Disease
Parkinson's disease is the world's fastest-growing neurological condition. Canada has some of the world's highest rates, and they are rapidly rising. One in every 500 Canadians suffers with Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease affects over 100,000 Canadians now
(See Appendix A), with approximately 6,600 new cases diagnosed each year. Young Onset Parkinson's Disease (YOPD) is a form of Parkinson's disease that affects people under 50 while people with typical PD, develop symptoms when they reach the age of 50. This report will discuss the risk factors resulting in Young on-set parkinsons, It’s impact on the nervous system and the brain, and Treatments available for those who suffer with Parkinsons.
There are multiple risk factors that can lead to YOPD. Some include; Genes, Environment, Race, and Gender.
Genetics have an important influence in young-onset Parkinson's disease. Scientists have discovered genes that can either cause or increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease at a young age. According to new research, those with early-onset Parkinson's disease and a strong family history of the disease are more likely to carry genes linked to the disorder. In fact, a recent study found that 65 percent of persons with PD who started before the age of 20 and 32 percent of people who started between the ages of 20 and 30 had a genetic mutation linked to an increased chance of developing the disease.
Ethnicity and race also plays a major role leading to both young on-set PD and typical PD. Hispanics were shown to have the highest rate of Parkinson's disease in a 2003 research in northern California, followed by non-Hispanic white, Asian, and Black people. A study conducted in Pennsylvania in 2009 discovered statistically significant differences in Parkinson's disease incidence among different ethnic groups. When compared to the African American population, white and Latino populations experienced around twice as many new cases of Parkinson's disease. (See Appendix B)
When the brain initiates an impulse to move a muscle, for example, to lift an arm), the impulse passes through the basal ganglia (See Appendix C). The basal ganglia release chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) that cause the next nerve cell in the pathway to send an impulse, much like all nerve cells. Dopamine is a major transmitter in the basal ganglia. Its overall function is to boost muscle nerve impulses. The number of connections between nerve cells in the basal ganglia reduces when nerve cells in the basal ganglia degenerate and produce less dopamine. As a result, the basal ganglia are unable to control muscle movement as well as they should, resulting in tremor, slow movement (bradykinesia), a tendency to move less (hypokinesia), issues with posture and walking, and some loss of coordination.
Parkinsons also cause great damage on the mitochondria, an organelle found in a eukaryotic cell, that generates energy through cellular respiration. Mitochondria supply energy to cells, and they are very dynamic, fusing together or breaking off into smaller forms in response to the energy demands of the cell. They can also be transferred to the most vulnerable parts of a cell. These processes can be impaired in Parkinson's disease, and mitochondria are unable to maintain proper activity. Mitochondria are removed and replaced as they age or become damaged. In Parkinson's disease, this recycling is thought to be disrupted, resulting in a buildup of damaged or worn-out mitochondria. (See Appendix D)
When it comes to a younger person with Parkinson's disease, doctors alter their treatment. If you're younger, the condition is more likely to be genetic. Younger brains also have more neuroplasticity, which enables the brain to cope with and adapt to the disease and therapy in a variety of ways. Dopamine drug treatment postpones the onset of levodopa-related motor symptoms until levodopa therapy is initiated. Surgical treatments are available for the treatment of YOPD. Cell-based therapy, immunotherapy, and gene therapy are among the upcoming therapeutic options for YOPD treatment.
