Although there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, medications and surgical procedures are available that can help patients lead active lives and slow the progression of the disease. Amina Kindarova, a neurologist at the Docmed clinic, told socialbites.ca.
“We always start with medication. Medications help the patient lead an active life and minimize movement disorders. Levodopa is the gold standard. In cases where drug treatment is not sufficient, deep brain stimulation (DBS) is used. In this procedure, electrodes are placed in the brain under MRI guidance and used to interrupt problematic electrical signals from certain areas. It is believed that the procedure does not damage healthy brain tissue,” Kindarova told socialbites.ca.
Many people report a significant reduction in symptoms after DBS and are able to reduce their medication dosage. There are also other solutions, such as the implantation of a special IPG device (Implantable pulse generator), for example under the collarbone or in the abdominal cavity, which stimulates the brain areas that control movement with electrical impulses. Patients control the device using a remote control. Another treatment is to destroy areas of the brain associated with tremors using focused ultrasound. The procedure does not require any incisions or holes in the skull.
“All procedures can be performed strictly according to indications. The probability of infection, stroke, brain hemorrhage or other anesthesia-related complications is 1-3%. Diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease are associated with risks and may influence the decision to have surgery. All these procedures can only be performed in specialized centers. It is also important to understand that these do not cure Parkinson’s disease, they only slow it down,” Kindarova said.
But there is hope that the root cause of Parkinson’s disease will be found and drugs that can eliminate it.
“Drugs are now being tested that directly affect the toxic proteins that accumulate in the brain in Parkinson’s disease. Research is also being conducted on transplanting stem cells directly into affected brain structures. “In addition, increasing attention is being paid to the gut microbiome, which plays an important role in the disease,” he concluded.
Previously Kindarova saidHow can you suspect that you have Parkinson’s disease?