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Parkinson's disease Q&As

Published by Bupa's health information team, November 2008.

Answers to questions about Parkinson's disease

This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.

 

Will doing exercise help to improve my symptoms?

Yes, doing suitable exercise can help to improve some of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. It's also good for your general health and wellbeing.

Explanation

One of the main symptoms of Parkinson's disease is stiffness and rigidity of your muscles and joints. Doing some form of exercise is important to strengthen your muscles, and reduce this stiffness and rigidity. Exercising can also improve your mood and help to relieve depression, which can sometimes develop as a result of Parkinson's disease. Doing regular exercise will also help to improve your general health and fitness. This means that you may remain active for longer and therefore keep your independence for as long as possible.

People with Parkinson's disease can participate in many sports and activities, including swimming, dancing and tennis. Group exercise sessions can be particularly good as they also offer you the chance to socialise. But you should only carry out exercise which will be safe for you to do.

Ask your doctor for advice on what kind of exercise is suitable for you. He or she may refer you to a physiotherapist who will show you how to do some simple exercise routines that you can then do at home. A physiotherapist can also give you advice on how to move around your home more easily.

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How quickly does Parkinson's disease progress?

The rate at which Parkinson's disease progresses varies from person to person.

Explanation

Parkinson's disease is a progressive disease, meaning that your symptoms will gradually get worse over time. It's caused by a reduction in the number of cells that make a chemical transmitter in your brain called dopamine. This causes a reduction in the amount of dopamine in your brain. Once around 80 percent of the dopamine in your brain has been lost, you will begin to get the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

The amount of dopamine in your brain will continue to fall very slowly, and as this happens the symptoms of the disease will get worse. Everyone is different, and the rate at which this happens will be individual to you. Some people find that they are only slightly disabled 20 years after they have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. However, other people are much more disabled 10 years after their diagnosis.

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Is there a cure for Parkinson's disease?

No, there is currently no cure for Parkinson's disease. However, the symptoms of the disease can be controlled with medicines.

Explanation

Several types of medicine can be used to control the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. They do this by increasing the amount of dopamine in your brain, stimulating the areas of the brain where dopamine works or blocking the action of other chemicals that reduce the effectiveness of dopamine. Your doctor will prescribe medication that is suitable to control your symptoms.

Lots of research is being done to find more effective treatments for Parkinson's disease, including gene therapy and stem cell therapy.

Gene therapy is a technique in which normal genes are delivered directly to the parts of your brain which are affected by Parkinson's disease. This could help to protect your brain cells from the damage caused by Parkinson's disease and help them to produce more dopamine.

Stem cells are special cells that may help to repair the cells in your brain. It's hoped that in the future it will be possible to use stem cells to replace the cells in your brain which have been lost because of Parkinson's disease. The stem cells would be healthy and able to produce dopamine.

These types of therapies are only in the early stages of research, but they may be able to provide better control of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease in the future.

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This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.

Publication date: November 2008

 

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