Treatment Parkinson's Disease

To date, there is no known cure for Parkinson's disease, despite the ongoing research efforts of scientists across the world. Having said that, there are a number of treatments available which can substantially relieve the pain many patients feel as a result of the symptoms of the disease.

The most effective treatment for the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease by a long shot is the drug levodopa. This is derived from a naturally produced chemical in plant matter and animals, and works with the nerve cells to produce the dopamine which has been eroded by the patient's condition, and is thought to be an underlying cause of the disease. The drug allows the majority of patients to extend the period of time in which they can lead their normal lives, effectively stalling the development of their Parkinson's. Unfortunately, this treatment is only really effective in helping rigidity and bradykinesia, and may be of no help to the tremor or balance problems the patient may be experiencing. The drug is so effective, many patients forgot they are suffering from the disease as they continue to lead their lives as normal.
However, levodopa is only a short term solution, as it can never replace the nerve cells which have been irretrievably damaged within the brain.

When combined with the drug tolcapone, Parkinsons medicine significantly reduces the effects of the disease, and helps block the destruction of dopamine which worsens the condition.

symptoms of parkinsons disease : What are the four primary symptoms of Parkinson's?

The following are the most common symptoms of Parkinson's disease. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

- rigidity - stiffness when the arm, leg, or neck is moved back and forth.
- resting tremor - tremor (involuntary movement from contracting muscles) that is most prominent at rest.
- bradykinesia - slowness in initiating movement.
- loss of postural reflexes - poor posture and balance that may cause falls; gait or balance problems.


As the disease progresses, walking may become affected, causing the patient to stop in mid-stride or "freeze" in place, and maybe even fall over. Patients also may begin walking with a series of quick, small steps as if hurrying forward to keep balance, a practice known as festination.

The symptoms of Parkinson's disease may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

http://www-neuro.med.ohio-state.edu/movementdisorders/pd/what-is-pd.htm

symptoms of parkinsons disease : Clincal trial

Purpose

This study will examine the effects of transcranial electrical polarization (TEP) on gait (walking) problems and rigidity in patients with Parkinson's disease. TEP is a method of brain stimulation that may be able to change the electrical activity of the nerves of the brain, possibly causing Parkinson's disease symptoms to improve.

Patients between 40 and 80 years of age with moderately severe Parkinson's disease whose main symptoms are problems with walking, including freezing, or rigidity, may be eligible for this study. Candidates must be taking Sinemet or another L-DOPA drug and not have too much tremor.

Participants will be assigned to receive either real or sham (placebo) TEP. Both groups will have eight treatments over 3-1/2 weeks. For the TEP, electrodes are placed on wet pads on the scalp. An electrical current passes through the electrodes, travels through the scalp and skull, and causes small electrical currents in the cortex-the outer part of the brain. Participants will have a neurological examination, including an evaluation of walking, just before and just after each TEP session. Patients' motor function will be re-evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 months after the last TEP treatment.

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Treatment

Official Title: Transcranial Electrical Polarization for the Treatment of Bradykinesia and Rigidity in Patients With Parkinson's Disease.

Further study details as provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):
Primary Outcomes: Meaurement of the freezing and balance/gait, bradykinesia, and rigidity immediately before and after each TEP session, to estimate the therapeutic effect over the course of treatment.
Secondary Outcomes: Measure long-lasting therapeutuc TEP effects.
Expected Total Enrollment: 46
Study start: March 2003
Last follow-up: April 2006; Data entry closure: April 2006

The treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) needs further improvement, particularly in the areas of gait and freezing. Transcranial electrical polarization (TEP) which passes weak direct current (DC) current through the skull and across the cortex has been done for many years with numerous effects described in healthy subjects and patients with mental illness. Recently, it has been shown by objective means, in controlled experiments, that this type of treatment has robust and lasting effects on the excitability of the motor cortex in healthy humans. We hypothesize that TEP will have a beneficial effect on gait and freezing in medicated patients, and we propose to test this in a controlled trial. Specifically, we propose to look at the effect of 1-2mA TEP with anode position over the frontal poles and/or premotor and primary motor cortex, and cathode over mastoid process. Over a one-year period, we will enroll 42 adults with PD and evaluate the acute TEP effects over a period of four weeks (eight TEP sessions, nine visits). Additional ratings will be done at one and three months after the end of TEP sessions. Symptoms will be evaluated with standard tests of motor function, including the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and specific tests of gait and freezing. We will also look for cumulative, long-lasting effects over the three-month period.

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00082342