Get help now
  • Pages 3
  • Words 704
  • Views 121
  • Download

    Cite

    Katrina
    Verified writer
    Rating
    • rating star
    • rating star
    • rating star
    • rating star
    • rating star
    • 5/5
    Delivery result 2 hours
    Customers reviews 876
    Hire Writer
    +123 relevant experts are online

    Parkinsons Disease Essay (704 words)

    Academic anxiety?

    Get original paper in 3 hours and nail the task

    Get help now

    124 experts online

    Parkinson DiseaseDamage to Broca’s area in the frontal lobe causes difficulty in speaking and writing, a problem known as Broca’s aphasia. Injury to Wernicke’s area in the left temporal lobe results in an inability to comprehend spoken language, called Wernicke’s aphasia.

    Cerebral palsy is a broad term for brain damage sustained close to birth that permanently affects motor function. The damage may take place either in the developing fetus, during birth, or just after birth and is the result of the faulty development or breaking down of motor pathways. Cerebral palsy is non-progressive that is, it does not worsen with time. During childhood development, the brain is particularly susceptible to damage because of the rapid growth and reorganization of nerve connections. Problems that originate in the immature brain can appear as epilepsy or other brain-function problems in adulthood.

    Parkinson’s Disease, progressively disabling neurological disease marked by tremor and increasing stiffness of the muscles. The onset of this disease is gradual, which makes it difficult to diagnose in its early stages. Tremor usually begins in one or both hands; eventually the thumb and forefinger may show a rapid repetitive movement described as “pill rolling. ” In addition to muscular rigidity, other symptoms include slow body movement, poor coordination, and faulty balance. A shortening of muscles along the front of the neck tends to bend the head and spine forward, while the lack of animation in the face creates a mask like expression.

    As these symptoms worsen, chronic fatigue, mental confusion, and speech impairment may develop and the person with Parkinson’s may find it impossible to walk unassisted. The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease appear when neurons (nerve cells) located in the substantia nigra, a part of the brain stem, either die or lose their ability to function properly. The chief neurotransmitter—or carrier of nerve signals—in this area of the brain is dopamine, which is deficient in people who have Parkinson’s. The cause of this deficiency is not known, but research suggests that several factors may reinforce each other to produce Parkinson’s disease. There may be a genetic predisposition for some forms of the disease—between 15 and 20 percent of people with Parkinson’s are closely related to an individual who displays the disease’s characteristic symptoms. In 1996 scientists identified a gene associated with a rare form of Parkinson’s disease.

    Genetic predisposition may be limited only to rare forms of the disease, however. A 1999 study found that the most common form of Parkinson’s disease is not inherited, suggesting that exposure to certain environmental agents may be a primary cause. Although the identity of these agents remains unknown, candidates include harmful pesticides or toxins in food; and free radicals, which are unstable molecules that may contribute to neuron damage by reacting with other molecules—especially metallic elements such as iron—in the basic chemical process known as oxidation. Introduction of the drug L-dopa, or levodopa, in the mid-1960s led to the relief of Parkinson’s symptoms in many people with the disease. L-dopa stimulates the production of dopamine in surviving neurons in the substantia nigra. L-dopa becomes less effective over time in relieving symptoms, at which point a substitute drug such as pergolide or bromocriptine may be prescribed.

    In 1997 the drugs pramipexole (sold under the brand name Mirapex) and ropinirole, (brand name Requip) were approved by the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) for use in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. These drugs appear to have fewer side effects than some of the older medicines. Other drugs that affect the action of central nervous system neurotransmitters have proven useful in relieving tremors. Brain surgery, a common method for treating Parkinson’s before the discovery of L-dopa, is coming back into favor for patients with severe tremors.

    Surgeons use various procedures to destroy tissue in regions of the brain believed to play a role in Parkinson’s disease, such as the substantia nigra. These procedures have positive effects for some people, but experts caution that they do not work for everyone. Additional surgical treatments are under investigation. Such experimental treatments include a pacemaker-like device to prevent tremors, and more recently, replacing damaged neural tissue with healthy fetal neural tissue.Psychology Essays

    This essay was written by a fellow student. You may use it as a guide or sample for writing your own paper, but remember to cite it correctly. Don’t submit it as your own as it will be considered plagiarism.

    Need custom essay sample written special for your assignment?

    Choose skilled expert on your subject and get original paper with free plagiarism report

    Order custom paper Without paying upfront

    Parkinsons Disease Essay (704 words). (2019, Feb 03). Retrieved from https://artscolumbia.org/parkinsons-disease-essay-78154/

    We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy

    Hi, my name is Amy 👋

    In case you can't find a relevant example, our professional writers are ready to help you write a unique paper. Just talk to our smart assistant Amy and she'll connect you with the best match.

    Get help with your paper