Parkinson's Disease: Symptoms & Treatment PDF

### **1. Extrapyramidal Motor System** The **extrapyramidal motor system** is a network of brain structures responsible for controlling involuntary movements, posture, and muscle tone. It consists of structures like the **basal ganglia**, **substantia nigra**, **red nucleus**, and **cerebellum**, w...

### **1. Extrapyramidal Motor System** The **extrapyramidal motor system** is a network of brain structures responsible for controlling involuntary movements, posture, and muscle tone. It consists of structures like the **basal ganglia**, **substantia nigra**, **red nucleus**, and **cerebellum**, which all play a role in regulating motor control. This system is distinct from the **pyramidal system**, which controls voluntary movements. The extrapyramidal system helps **fine-tune movements**, ensuring they are smooth and coordinated. ### **2. Pathophysiology of Parkinson\'s Disease** Parkinson\'s disease (PD) primarily involves the **degeneration of dopaminergic neurons** in the **substantia nigra**, a key component of the basal ganglia. This leads to **dopamine deficiency**, which disrupts the balance between excitatory and inhibitory signals within the basal ganglia, resulting in impaired motor control. The hallmark symptoms include **tremors**, **rigidity**, **bradykinesia** (slowness of movement), and **postural instability**. ### **3. Essential Tremor vs. Intentional Tremor** - - ### **4. Cogwheel Rigidity** **Cogwheel rigidity** refers to a specific type of muscle stiffness that occurs in Parkinson\'s disease. It is characterized by a series of **interruptions or jerks** when a limb is moved passively, resembling the motion of a cogwheel. This rigidity occurs due to **abnormal muscle tone** caused by disruptions in the basal ganglia\'s motor control. ### **5. Differences Between Pyramidal and Extrapyramidal Tracts** - - ### **6. Alpha-Synuclein and Tau Proteins in Parkinson\'s** - - ### **7. Parkinson\'s, Lewy Bodies, and Lewy Body Dementia** - - ### **8. Glabella Tap and Parkinson\'s Disease** The **glabella tap** is a clinical sign where a series of gentle taps on the forehead can trigger a **blink reflex**. In Parkinson's disease, it may cause **repetitive blinking** (called the **Myerson sign**), which is often seen due to **rigidity and bradykinesia**. ### **9. Biopsychosocial Symptoms of Dementia** Dementia often has **biological**, **psychological**, and **social** symptoms, such as: - - - ### **10. First Signs of Parkinson's Disease** - ### **11. Bradykinesia and Negative Symptoms** **Bradykinesia** refers to the **slowness of movement**, which is a **negative symptom** in Parkinson's disease because it impairs the ability to initiate and complete movements, making normal daily activities more difficult. ### **12. TRAP of Parkinson\'s Disease** The acronym **TRAP** stands for the four main motor symptoms of Parkinson\'s disease: - - - - ### **13. Parkinsonian Gait** A typical **Parkinsonian gait** involves: - - - - ### **14. Dysphagia in Parkinson\'s Disease** **Dysphagia** (difficulty swallowing) is a significant concern in Parkinson\'s as it can lead to **aspiration pneumonia**, which is a major cause of **hospitalization** in advanced stages of the disease. ### **15. Autonomic Dysfunction in Parkinson\'s** Three common autonomic dysfunctions in Parkinson\'s disease include: - - - ### **16. Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson\'s** Non-motor symptoms can include: - - - - - ### **17. Neuropsychiatric Symptoms** These include: - ### **18. Drug Used to Treat Parkinson\'s Disease** - ### **19. Mechanism of Action of Levodopa** **Levodopa** is a **precursor to dopamine** that crosses the blood-brain barrier. Once in the brain, it is converted into **dopamine**, compensating for the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in Parkinson\'s disease. ### **20. Levodopa Metabolism** Levodopa is converted into **dopamine** in the brain but is also metabolized outside the brain into **dopamine and other metabolites** by enzymes like **dopamine decarboxylase**. ### **21. Why Levodopa is Combined with Carbidopa** **Carbidopa** is added to **levodopa** to **prevent its premature conversion into dopamine** in the **periphery** (outside the brain), which would cause side effects like nausea. It ensures more levodopa reaches the brain. ### **22. Cala Device** The **Cala device** is a **wearable neurostimulation device** used to treat **essential tremor**. It delivers **electrical stimulation** to the **wrist** through the skin, which can help **reduce tremors** by modulating nerve activity. Let me know if you\'d like more details on any of these topics!