When Should Patients With Parkinson’s Consider Advanced Treatment Beyond Medicines?

When Should Patients With Parkinson’s Consider Advanced Treatment Beyond Medicines?

Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive degenerative neurological disorder that affects the control of body movements and leads to poor coordination. Parkinson’s may begin with mild symptoms such as a simple tremor or slight stiffness. When diagnosed with Parkinson’s, most people are advised to take medication, and while this may provide some relief in the earlier stages of the illness, the medication may not provide as much relief in the later stages.

At this point, some doctors may begin to talk about advanced treatments other than medication. Recognizing the need for these therapies will enable people with Parkinson’s and their families to optimize the management of the illness.

Parkinson’s Disease Explained

Parkinson’s is defined as the ”Progressive Deficit of a Cortico-Basal Ganglionic Pathway.” It is the result of the degeneration of a group of nerve cells in the brain that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Dopamine is the essential neurotransmitter that is used in the chemical control of fluid and patterned movements of the body. The reduction of dopamine in the brain leads to the failure of the brain to control movements, and as a result, the person experiences tremors, stiffness, and slowness of movements. Parkinson’s disease is progressive, meaning that it is characterized by a slow worsening of symptoms over time, and while the disease is progressive, the rate of progression differs from person to person. Parkinson’s disease is most frequently seen in patients over 60, although the condition, referred to as early-onset Parkinson’s, can also develop in younger people.

Examples of the Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease tend to develop over a long period of time. They are often so mild in the beginning that the patient may attempt to rationalize the symptoms as part of the normal ageing process.

Common symptoms include:

• Shaking – A person may experience tremors in the hands, fingers, chin and sometimes the legs. Tremors occur even when the person is resting.

• Slowness of movement (bradykinesia) – Simple activities may take a long time to complete such as walking, writing and getting dressed.

• Muscle stiffness – Muscles may become rigid, making movement uncomfortable. This also limits the individual’s range of movement.

• Balance and posture problems – Patients may develop a habit of stooping and tend to lose their balance frequently.

• Speech and handwriting – Patients may speak in a low voice and write in very small letters that are cramped and disorganized.

Apart from the motor symptoms, Parkinson’s also causes sleep and mood disturbances, fatigue, constipation, and a reduced sense of smell. Occasionally, these symptoms may develop even before the patient has noticeably developed any motor symptoms.

Your doctor’s ability to identify PD starts with a detailed analysis of the patient’s history, symptoms, brain imaging, and neurological exams to evaluate movement, coordination, and balance. Once imaging has determined the possibility of other neurological disorders, it’s possible to consider the diagnosis of PD.

Symptoms of PD can vary considerably. The faster it can be diagnosed, the sooner the physician can help streamline symptoms, the more value the patient has in managing their quality of life.

Medications that mimic or increase dopamine levels are the mainstay of therapy for PD, and, for early stages, this can be efficacious as goal-directed therapy.

Tight control of a patient’s motor symptoms can be dependent on scheduling aligned with dosing, as the medications can cause a ‘worn-off’ effect, creating motor fluctuations. This effect can also cause motor phenomena, or involuntary movements (dyskinesia), as a side effect of prolonged medication use.

If these difficulties start to impact day-to-day activities, specific treatment options aimed at improving how the symptoms are managed may be warranted.

Other Non-Pharmacological Treatment Options

Patients whose symptoms are inadequately controlled by medicines are offered more modern neurological therapy options.

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

DBS is a surgical method in which tiny electrodes are put in different parts of the brain, and these electrodes send out controlled electrical signals to normalize brain functions that are misfiring and causing movement symptoms.

MR-Guided Magnetic Resonance Imaging Focused Ultrasound

MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound is a novel, non-invasive ultrasound method that focuses on treating tremors by addressing specific parts of the brain, guided by an MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging that allows accurate targeting of the concerned brain region to eliminate the need for any incisions.

In addition, some physicians may recommend Continuous Medication Delivery Therapy.

In rare cases, physicians can suggest continuous medication delivery therapies that use a pump to help sustain a steady level of dopamine in the body.

Advanced treatment is usually taken into consideration if:

• Symptoms continue to present even with medication
• Symptoms become more persistent
• Medication side effects are debilitating
• Symptoms impact daily functioning

Technological Advancements in the Care of People with Parkinson’s Disease

The management of Parkinson’s Disease has greatly benefited from the technological advancements in medicine. The ability to better manage the symptoms of this disease has resulted from the development of improved imaging, devices designed for less invasive surgeries, and precision medicine.

Vattikuti Technologies has also aided the development and application of new and innovative techniques in the precise treatment of the brain and nervous system. The firm has also aided the development of new minimally invasive and robotic treatment technologies and is committed to expanding effective treatment technologies for patients.

Such advancements have enabled patients to receive treatment options that were not available even ten years ago.

The Future

Although Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive, degenerative illness, the way it is treated is constantly evolving. With a mix of medication, changes in daily activities, and newer treatment options, patients can retain their independence and perform their daily activities.

The most important thing, however, is that patients have regular check-ups with their doctors and keep their neurologist informed of changes in their symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the signs that Parkinson’s medications are becoming ineffective?

If medications are ineffective, you might find that without the next dose, the symptoms of Parkinson’s, like stiffness, slowness, or tremors, are returning. You might also experience dyskinesia (involuntary movements).

2. Are the treatments for advanced Parkinson’s safe?

If done by a trained expert, advanced procedures like Deep Brain Stimulation and MR-guided Focused Ultrasound are generally safe, and most doctors will check and measure the safety of each patient before doing it.

3. When should patients talk about advanced treatments with their doctors?

Advanced treatment options should be discussed when Parkinson’s symptoms make it difficult to do daily tasks, even when medication changes have been made. Specialists, along with advanced treatments like DBS or focused ultrasound, are also working on improving treatment safety and precision.