PARKINSON'S DISEASE By: Prince Akpaka, Hala Dahir, Graham Watson and Evelynn Wilcox

PARKINSON'S DISEASE Other names for Parkinson's disease are shaking palsy, paralysis agitans, and Parkinsonism. Its pronounced / ˈ p ɑː r.k ɪ n.s ə nz/. The disease got its name from a London scientist named James Parkinson on 1817 when he was writing a essay "An Essay on the Shaking Palsy." Prince

WHAT TYPE OF GENETIC DISORDER IS PARKINSON'S DISEASE? Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system. Most cases of Parkinson’s disease result from a complex interaction of environmental and genetic factors, but exactly why Parkinson’s occurs and how the neurons become impaired is unknown. However there is increasing evidence that Parkinson's disease may be inherited. “Associated genes” do not cause PD on their own but can increase the risk of developing the disorder. Hala

GENETICS GRAPHIC This graphic shows the difference between a healthy neuron cell and a neuron cell that is affected by Parkinson’s. ~ The cell affected by Parkinson’s does not have a steady flow of dopamine. This causes problems with the motor system. Dopamine is a chemical messenger. It carries information to the Corpus Stadium (responsible for producing smooth motions). Slowly, as more and more neurons die, movements become slower and harder to perform. Evelynn

SYMPTOMS OF DISORDER Some symptoms of Parkinson's disease are muscular stiffness, interrupted sleep, changes in sensory functions such as sense of smell, changes in mood such as anxiety or apathy, and stiffness in the facial area. Prince

EFFECTS OF DISORDER Some effects of Parkinson's disease is that steps get smaller & smaller and eventually you will fall over. Parkinson's disease mainly affects the way you move. Parkinson's is a progressive disorder, so it gets worse overtime. Prince

DIAGNOSIS Parkinson’s disease is difficult to diagnose because it varies between patients, and there is no standard test. Since there are no standard tests the doctor’s diagnosis depends on information given by the patient. Some of the procedures used to collect this data are:  To look for tremors in the arms  To observe how you step and how your arms swing while walking  To observe how quickly you can regain your balance * Researchers are working to create a standard test for Parkinson’s (such as a blood test) but so far they have had no luck finding an accurate biological marker.* Evelynn

PROGNOSIS People who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s rely greatly on their care givers. They will have trouble walking and may not be able to stand and walk on their own. (They may eventually need the help of a walker.) Many are affected emotionally from the disease. They may suffer from depression. As the disease progresses patients are more prone to serious falls. * Despite all of these things with proper treatment someone with Parkinson’s can live just as long as someone with out it.* Evelynn

TREATMENTS/MEDICATIONS There are many medications available to treat the symptoms, however there are none to fully reverse the effects of the disease. Over the counter meds Coenzyme Q10- mitochondria health Vitamin E, Vitamin C & Health foods – to evaluate their oxidative properties Creatine- increases levels of phosphocreatine (energy source in muscle & brain) Prescription Carbidopa/Levodopa therapySurgical Dopamine AgonistsDeep Brain Stimulation DBS Symmetrel Anticholinergics Eldepryl and Azilect MAO-B Inhibitors Hala

FACILITY/FOUNDATION The Parkinson's Foundation is one of the many foundations trying to eliminate Parkinson’s disease. The facility asks for $200 at a time to help Parkinson’s disease. This money goes to all Parkinson’s disease patients to aid them. Graham

2 ND GRAPHIC Graham

TONY’S STORY Tony Baxter is 58 and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) in His wife had died 20 years before due to motor neurche disease. He cares for his 30 year old daughter Gemma, who has Down’s Syndrome. He wasn’t shocked with the news of Parkinson’s, because he had previously been struggling with the symptoms. “When I first started taking medication, I experienced terrible side effects and would fall asleep for hours”. Besides medicine, Tony tries to take steps to eat well and reads all he can about his PD. He has also completed the Expert Patients Program run by the NHS. This has taught him ways to self manage the disease. He worries about his future and his children. He can have sleepless nights which is when he starts to worry about the disease progression, but caring for Gemma helps him forget about his PD. Hala

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WORKS CITED PAGE Heathline.com." Heathline.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar "Parkinson Disease." Genetics Home Reference. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar "Tony's Story - Taking Control and 'living in the Now'" Parkinson's UK -. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar "Parkinson's Disease: MedlinePlus." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 27 Mar "Parkinson's Disease." - Mayo Clinic. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar < disease/basics/definition/ Chien-Kuang Ding Guest lecture – Duke University Genetics outreach Organization Durant road middle school 2/23/16