Index
- What are the different stages of Parkinson's disease?
- Parkinson's disease, an age-related pathology
- How does Parkinson's disease progress?
- Phase 1
- Phase 2
- Phase 3
- Phase 4
- What can be done to treat this condition?
What are the different stages of Parkinson's disease?
Aging is a natural process that everyone has to go through one day. It is therefore completely natural for health to deteriorate and for the body to lose the strength and energy it had in youth. But apart from this natural process, some health problems can also occur in old age. These age-related conditions are essentially neurodegenerative diseases that can lead to dementia. Evolving over many years, these degenerative diseases gradually deteriorate the physical and mental health of the patient. They also make the patient completely dependent on others. Among these diseases, Parkinson's disease is one of the most common. How do the various stages of Parkinson's disease manifest themselves? Find out the answer below.
Parkinson's disease, an age-related pathology
Before getting to the heart of the matter, it is advisable to make a small reminder concerning this pathology. In fact, Parkinson's disease, like Alzheimer's disease, is a disease affecting seniors. As it is a neurodegenerative disease, it manifests itself by the progressive destruction of certain neurons: dopamine neurons. Their main role is to make it possible for the brain to control movements.
Several causes have been identified by scientists when it comes to this disease.
- Heredity: Although the hereditary form of Parkinson's disease is very rare, it does exist. Fortunately, it only affects a small number of families.
- The environment: various environmental factors are believed to be the cause of Parkinson's disease. These are mainly: exposure to chemicals in a significant and prolonged manner. This exposure can take place over many years and the chemicals in question are usually pesticides or solvents. However, scientists have found that environmental factors alone do not explain the onset of this disease, but only contribute to its onset. From this point of view, Parkinson's disease can be considered an occupational disease, especially in the agricultural world.
How does Parkinson's disease progress?
Parkinson's disease progresses over several years. Thus, in its early stages, it is asymptomatic and the patient lives his or her daily life perfectly without encountering any health problems. But when the first signs of the disease occur, one can begin to distinguish the 4 stages of Parkinson's disease.
Phase 1
As noted above, it is during this stage that the first signs of Parkinson's disease occur. This first phase can take up to 10 years before a diagnosis is made. The three symptoms that characterize this phase, and that often prompt patients to seek help, are as follows:
- A limb that becomes rigid.
- Movements that become abnormally slow. In the medical world, this symptom is called "bradykinesia".
- Tremors that only occur during rest.
Phase 2
The second stage of this disease is called the honeymoon phase. During this phase the manifestation of the symptoms of the disease is relatively unimportant. The patient can, more or less, continue to live a completely normal daily life. Depending on the patient, the duration of this honeymoon period varies between 3 and 8 years. At this stage, the patient is fully receptive to all dopaminergic treatments. This phase is also referred to by some as the "therapeutic equilibrium phase".
Phase 3
This phase corresponds to the fluctuating phase of Parkinson's disease. At this stage, the symptoms of the disease become progressively worse. Dopaminergic treatments lose their effectiveness during this third stage. Thus, the current treatment must be adjusted to ensure its effectiveness. During this period, the ill person also suffers episodically from various motor problems. Half of the time, the fluctuation period occurs within 6 years of the first signs of the disease.
Phase 4
This fourth and final phase of Parkinson's disease is the advanced or terminal stage of the disease. During this period, all the symptoms of the disease continue to worsen until the patient is completely incapacitated. The tremors become more intense and last longer. And apart from the motor symptoms which worsen, this fourth phase is also characterized by the appearance of certain disorders and infections. For example, the patient may experience swallowing disorders, speech problems and other psychological problems such as depression.
What can be done to treat this condition?
As a chronic, neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson's disease is irreversible. As a result, there is no treatment to completely eradicate this disease. However, there are certain treatments that can help to alleviate the symptoms and delay their aggravation.
- Surgery: the intervention consists of stimulating the brain through the implantation of electrodes.
- Medications: The drugs used in Parkinson's disease are designed to make up for the lack of dopamine caused by the progressive destruction of neurons.
These two treatments are always accompanied by physical rehabilitation, but also speech therapy for greater effectiveness.
