Index
- Parkinson's Disease: People and Risk Factors
Parkinson's Disease: People and Risk Factors
Index
- What you need to know about Parkinson's disease
- Definition
- Causes
- Symptoms
- Who are the people at risk?
- What about environmental risk factors?
- Air pollution
- Exposure to pesticides
- Protective factors against Parkinson's disease
What you need to know about Parkinson's disease
Before getting to the heart of the matter, it is important to recall the information to remember about this degenerative disease.
Definition
Parkinson's disease, as has been mentioned several times in the previous paragraphs, is a degenerative disease. It mainly affects the elderly and develops progressively. Its development phase can easily extend over several years. The disorders very characteristic of this disease generally occur between the ages of 50 and 70. In France, the average age of people with the disease is 57. At the very beginning of the disease, its symptoms may be confused with the signs of normal aging. Worldwide, statistics show that one person in 100 suffers from this disease at the age of 65. This figure doubles at age 70.
Causes
As a neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson's disease results from a slow destruction of neurons in the brain. The affected cells are located in the area of the brain called "black matter". This is responsible for the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that makes it possible to control movement. Dopamine also acts by making it possible to feel pleasure and desire. This degeneration of the brain is the cause of the tremors and all the movement disorders associated with Parkinson's disease.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Parkinson's disease usually begin with motor disturbances. These often affect only one side of the body and then spread to the other side.
The main symptoms of this disease are as follows:
- Tremors at rest
- A stiffness in the muscles of the limbs preventing you from doing simple things like buttoning your shirt
- Slow movements or bradykinesis
- A very characteristic gait called the Parkinson's gait. This corresponds to small steps during which the patient drags his feet and has a hunched back
- A loss of balance
Depending on the case, the patient may also become depressed, anxious and may have difficulty swallowing. They may also be subject to hyper salivation and urinary incontinence.
Who are the people at risk?
Although Parkinson's disease is an age-related disease, not all older people get it. In fact, there are certain factors that make some people more likely to develop this disease than others.
The main risk factors for Parkinson's disease are then :
- Age: As a disease of old age, the risk of this degenerative disease increases from the age of 55 onwards
- Gender: Parkinson's disease generally affects men more than women
- Genetics: Having a parent with Parkinson's disease also increases the risk of having it
What about environmental risk factors?
Apart from factors relating to the individual, certain external factors can also play a non- negligible role in the occurrence of Parkinson's disease.
Air pollution
Exposure to heavy metals that may be present in the air is also a risk factor for the development of Parkinson's disease. The heavy metals in question are mainly manganese, copper and mercury. A 2010 study conducted by Willis AW on the relationship between heavy metal exposure and Parkinson's disease on data from over 29 million people highlighted this relationship.
Exposure to pesticides
A study conducted in France in 2017 highlighted a correlation between pesticide use and Parkinson's disease. The same study also demonstrated the existence of a correlation between the increase in cases of the disease and areas of high agricultural activity. In any case, broader studies need to be carried out to determine which pesticides are involved in the degradation of neurons.
Protective factors against Parkinson's disease
There are also factors that can prevent the onset of Parkinson's disease. These are commonly called protective factors for Parkinson's disease.
