Parkinson's Disease is a degenerative neurological disease which primarily impacts the specific part of the brain (substantia nigra) which produces the neurotransmitter, dopamine.
Q. What are the symptoms of Parkinson's?
Trembling (tremor), stooped posture, muscular stiffness (rigidity), short shuffling steps, speaking softly in a rapid tone, poor balance, poor handwriting, and slowness of body movements (bradykinesia).
Q.What causes Parkinson's Disease?
The cause of Parkinson's Disease is not known. Some researchers believe it may result from toxins, head traumas or strokes. Parkinson's Disease may also have a genetic link.
Q. How is Parkinson's Diagnosed?
Neurologists diagnose Parkinson's by medical history and careful clinical examination. Often, tests are conducted to rule out other conditions, which may resemble Parkinson's.
Q. Why does Parkinson's occur?
While researchers move closer to understanding the cause, the symptoms of Parkinson's appear when there is not enough dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a naturally occurring chemical that allows nerve cells to transmit messages between each other and then to muscles to facilitate normal movement. For people with Parkinson's, many of these cells, contained in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra, have died -- and the remaining cells cannot produce enough dopamine.
Q. How prevalent is Parkinson's?
Parkinson's Disease is believed to affect approximately one million persons in the United States and nearly 100,000people in Canada. It affects both men and women across ethnic lines. It is more common as one travels away from the equator. It is more common in rural areas of industrialized countries and industrialized areas of rural countries. The incidence increases with age, 20% of patients may be diagnosed under the age of 50 and 5-10% under the age of 40.
1 in 300 people in Canada and the United States has Parkinson's.
Q.Can Parkinson's Disease be cured?
While there is presently no cure for Parkinson's Disease, available medications control the slow decline in function and manage Parkinson's Disease symptoms quite effectively.
Q.What medications are used to treat Parkinson's Disease?
There are several medications available for managing Parkinson's Disease. These are used alone and in combination. These medications include Eldepryl11 Capsules, 5mg selegilinee hydrochloride),Sinemet22 levodopaacarbidopaa), dopamineagonistss includingParlodel33 bromocriptineemesylatee) andPermaxx4 pergolideemesylatee) and others.
Q. What treatment is available?
The prescribed treatment deals with the symptoms of having Parkinson's. The best symptomatic treatment options include drug therapy, surgery, and physical therapy. These options need to be explored based on how severely the symptoms of Parkinson's are interfering with day-to-day quality of life. Generally, the first method of symptom control is a combination of drug therapy and physical therapy.
Drugs alleviate the symptoms but do not halt the progression. As symptoms advance, more medication is needed. While treatment does enable people to function better, it is not perfect and can cause side effects. Ongoing active research is focused on finding more effective treatment.
Q. What should I do if a family member, or I, display symptoms?
Contact your doctor immediately for a very careful physical examination and assessment of family history, and follow up with the Parkinson Society Canada.
Q. What kind of rehabilitation is available?
People with Parkinson's can greatly benefit by incorporating some type of physical and speech therapy into the management plan for dealing with their symptoms. Consultation with an occupational therapist can also prove beneficial in dealing with day to day living issues.
Q. Why should Parkinson's be my charity of choice?
Parkinson's is the second most common neuro degenerative disorder, a chronic neurological disease that generally affects people in the latter half of life with symptoms such as tremor, muscle rigidity, slowness of movement, impaired speech and difficulty with balance, walking and fine movements.
Donor dollars go to national peer-reviewed research, which will improve treatment and help us fund a cure for over 100,000 Canadians.
Significant strides in research are providing hope that within mere decades we may see Parkinson's eradicated.
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Participate. Request Information. Volunteer. Donate. Together, we can do more.
Q. how do I apply and get SSI
SSI, which stands for "Supplemental Security Income," is administered by Social Security. It is a needs based program for those who are disabled or over the age of 65, have limited assets and have income below the SSI level, which is currently $880 per month in California. (Each state's SSI level is different because some states, like California, provide a state supplement to the federal benefit which is only around $600 per month.)
In order to obtain SSI, the applicant must have no more than $2,000 of "countable" resources. SSI will not count a home, a car, furniture and furnishings, clothing, a burial plot, tools of a trade, or certain other assets. However, cash, stocks, bonds, cash surrender value of life insurance, and other assets that could be turned into case, will be counted.
Assuming a person over 65 meets the asset test and has income under the SSI level, he or she need only go to a local Social Security office and apply for benefits. Upon verifying the assets and income, the SSI will be granted.
If a person is under 65, he or she must also meet the test of disability, which is defined as the inability to engage in any substantial gainful employment which exists in the national economy in significant numbers. If the person can make change at a self service gas station, or sort nuts and bolts on a conveyor belt, then the person is not "disabled" for SSI purposes.
Whether over or under 65, once a person qualifies for SSI, he or she automatically qualifies for Medi-Cal (Medicaide in other states.) This is called "linked" Medi-Cal, because it is linked with the SSI benefits and is administered through the Social Security office. Non-linked community based Medi-Cal, for those who are not receiving SSI benefits, is administered by the county social services office.
SOCIAL SECURITY
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Social Security Adds 38 New Compassionate Allowance Conditions
Expansion Will Speed Benefits to Thousands of Americans with Disabilities
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today joined award-winning actress Patty Duke and the cast of her hit 1960s sitcom, The Patty Duke Show, to unveil Social Security's newest online service – an application for Medicare benefits. This new online application, which takes less than 10 minutes to complete, is for people reaching the Medicare eligibility age of 65 who want to delay filing for Social Security retirement benefits. For more information, read our press release.
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Quick refresher on Parkinson's please share with friends and family of PD patients
Read Parkinson's disease stages in this article to understand the advancement of this disease.
Parkinson's disease is the degenerative disease of the neurons, which affects about 1 million people in the US. The cause of this disease is still unknown, although some associate it with heredity or exposure to environmental toxins. The disease affects the motor ability of the person at various levels and strips him of his independence in the later stages of the disease. The disease originates in the part of brain, but has effects on the entire body of the person. Parkinson's disease is divided into 5 stages depending upon the severity of symptoms and advancement of disease. Before we study Parkinson's disease stages in detail, let us understand a few facts about Parkinson's disease.
What is Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease usually affects people of age 60 and more. In about 5% of Parkinson's cases, the disease hits people at 40 years of age. It is extremely rare to find Parkinson's patients younger than 40 years of age. Parkinson's disease results from loss of neurons in the part of brain called substantia nigra. This leads to depletion of chemical neurotransmitter called dopamine. Symptoms of Parkinson's disease do not surface until there is 80% depletion of this chemical neurotransmitter. Dopamine neurons contain mitochondria which are responsible for converting food into energy with the help of oxygen. As a result, the brain of Parkinson's patients is often deprived of energy, which affects various vital functions. Motor disability is the most important implication of Parkinson's disease. Impaired walking, poor posture, odd facial expressions, tremors are some other symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease can be treated, but the treatment cannot entirely reverse the effects of the disease. Nonetheless, this disease does not affect the lifespan of the person. Parkinson's disease prognosis is greatly dependent upon the advancement of the disease, which is not uniform for all patients.
Parkinson's Disease Stages
There are five identified stages of Parkinson's disease. It may take 20 years in some patients for the disease to advance in later stages, while in some people the disease progresses very quickly. It is also not uncommon for the disease to skip a stage and make a transition to the next one, thereby reducing the Parkinson's disease stages timeline. Given below is a detailed account of Parkinson's disease symptoms at each stage.
Stage I Stage I is characterized by early Parkinson's disease symptoms. There is no major motor impairment and the person only experiences minor tremors in hands or in other body parts. Although, he can perform all his daily tasks on his own, he may not be able to carry them with ease. Friends and family may be able to notice some unusual changes in the posture or facial expressions of the person.
Stage II As the disease progresses to stage II, person may experience bilateral symptoms, meaning symptoms affecting both the limbs of the body. Besides, it is also common to lose balance and ability to walk on their own. Daily tasks become more of a challenge at this stage.
Stage III Stage III Parkinson's is said to be of severe nature, as the person loses his independence to a certain extent. Although, he can still walk around, it is often rigid and awkward. There is a general retardation of physical movements of the body.
Stage IV Surprisingly, the tremors or shaking which is common during the early stages of Parkinson's disease vanish at this time. However, the person finds it difficult to live on his own at this stage. At stage IV, the walking is severely impaired.
Stage V At stage V, the person becomes completely dependent on other people for his daily tasks. The condition of the patient is such that he needs one on one nursing and care. Without a care giver, the person might find it simply impossible to sustain. At this stage, the person may sleep for most of his time. Weird behavior is also possible in some cases.
Certain medications can help in keeping the early symptoms of Parkinson's disease in check or prolong the advancement of disease. Later Parkinson's disease stages may prove to be quite a challenge to cope for the patient as well as his family. Family members might find it hard to see their beloved in bedridden state for years without any hope of revival.
By Ashwini Kulkarni Published: 7/23/2010 B
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