Parkinson's hundreds of thousands of Germans affected

Nerve disease on the rise worldwide: Experts inform about Parkinson's

12/04/2011

On the occasion of World Parkinson's Day yesterday, physicians and public health officials have been widely informed about the health consequences of the disease known as "shaking palsy" and have pointed out the imminent increase in Parkinson's disease in the wake of demographic change.

Parkinson's is relatively common in the population, but the diagnosis is often considerably delayed, the experts warn. An early diagnosis is particularly important for those affected, since Parkinson's can not be cured on the basis of the current medical treatment methods, but can be significantly delayed in its course of the disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 300,000 people are affected in Germany and around 25,000 new cases of Parkinson's are added each year.

Trembling hands and cramping typical signs of Parkinson's
Parkinson's disease occurs as a disease of the central nervous system, especially in older people from the age of 65 on, with the first signs of the disease usually make themselves felt before the actual diagnosis. Shoulder pain and muscle tension can, according to the experts, be a first sign of possible Parkinson's disease. Also, the reduced swinging of an arm while walking or recurring hand shaking could point to Parkinson's, said the experts of the WHO and the "European Parkinsons Disease Association" on the occasion of yesterday's World Parkinson's Day. As the disease progresses, the movements become progressively slower, leading to complete immobility of those affected, with the posture of Parkinson's patients often being relatively unstable, the physicians explained the clinical picture of Parkinson's disease. Muscle cramps and muscle stiffness are a typical symptom of Parkinson's. In addition, back pain, an unsteady gait, disturbed sense of smell and depression are also signs of possible Parkinson's disease. Although predominantly older people are affected, young people should not underestimate the risk of Parkinson's disease, because about ten percent of those affected suffer from Parkinson's disease before their 40th birthday.

Parkinson's - an incurable nerve disease
Parkinson's disease is not curable to date, but relatively treatable especially in the early stages of disease, which can often achieve significant delays in the disease process. Thus, an early diagnosis with promptly initiated therapy can certainly have a positive effect on the course of the disease. However, according to the experts, the therapy should be individually tailored to the existing symptoms of those affected. Significant successes have been achieved in the treatment of Parkinson's disease in the past not only with the use of medication, but above all with accompanying therapies, such as physiotherapy or speech therapy. Surgical procedures may also be used by the European Parkinson's Disease Association for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Overall, however, the successes in the treatment of nervous disease are so far relatively manageable and a prospect of recovery for those affected does not exist today.

World Parkinson's Disease Day
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Parkinsons Disease Association first hosted World Parkinson's Day in 1997, commemorating the birthday of British physician James Parkinson, who first described the symptoms of what was once known as shaking palsy in 1817. Since then, the experts around the world remind each year of the significant health consequences of Parkinson's disease for those affected and inform about new treatment approaches and research results. (Fp)

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