Looking at Parkinson’s Differently

Parkinson’s disease can be a devastating disease, especially amongst elderly individuals. The disease is most noticeably detected by the physical tremors that are the hallmark of the disease, but it is much more than this. Parkinson’s is is a neurodegenerative disease, which means that over time, parts of the brain stop working properly. The physical tremors are perhaps the most noticeable part of the disease, but there are many other complications that come with it.

 

Seniors that are suffering from Parkinson’s eventually find that they cannot control the symptoms of the disease well with medication. This can take decades before it is a big problem, but it impacts everyone a little bit differently. Many people who have Parkinson’s will need senior care at some point in their lives, and the older someone is, the more likely they are to need this assistance.

 

The good news is that researchers are gaining ground in their understanding of Parkinson’s. There’s still no known cure for the disease, but the better that it is understood, the closer researchers come to figuring out how to treat the disease more effectively. One of the newest developments in Parkinson’s research has come at the genetic level.

 

One of the genes that is involved in the manifestation of Parkinson’s, LRRK2, might play a larger role in our lives than we once thought. Mutations of the LRRK2 gene have been reported in about 3 percent of Parkinson’s cases, and researchers have believed that this gene plays a role in whether someone will get the disease or not. However, new research indicates that the proteins linked to this gene might have a greater degree of influence over the development of Parkinson’s, even when the LRRK2 gene is not mutated.

 

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that can necessitate senior care in the elderly.

 

Although researchers have been aware of the link between the gene and Parkinson’s for about ten years, it has been difficult to research because there is such a small amount of the protein found in nerve cells. However, through the use of fluorescent glowing in cells, researchers were able to learn that there was a substantial increase in LRRK2 activity in Parkinson’s patients through post-mortem study, even when no unusual mutation had occurred. This could be a new target for the treatment of the disease, although there’s still a lot of research that needs to be done before doctors are able to act on this information.

 

Again, this is still a long cry from a cure for Parkinson’s, but it is a small step closer. In the end, a better understanding of the disease will help seniors to live a better quality of life because their doctors will be able to take better steps to help people with Parkinson’s. This is something that will continue to improve over the coming years. In the meantime, if you have a loved one with Parkinson’s, getting the help of a professional caregiver can help you and your family to worry less about the safety and security of your loved one while you are at work or out of the house.

The post Looking at Parkinson’s Differently appeared first on Paradise In-Home Care.