Abstract

A REVIEW ON PARKINSON’S DISEASE

Zeenath Banu*, Azra Fatima, Sarwar Fatima, Syeda Fatimuz Zohra, Tabassum Sultana

ABSTRACT

Parkinson’s disease, first described by James Parkinson in 1817, is a neurodegenerative ailment resulting from the damage of nerve cells in the brain. It is a chronic, progressive, neurodegenerative disorder with an estimated prevalence of 31 to 328 per 100,000 people worldwide. It is estimated that more than 1 percent of the population over age 65 are afflicted with Parkinson’s disease; incidence and prevalence increase with age. There are numerous unanswered questions regarding the diagnosis and management of Parkinson’s disease. Worsening mobility, causing problems with activities of daily living, pain and communication problems due to rigidity of facial muscles, are the main reasons of their decreasing quality of life. This study is focused on the role of psychological variables, which could be associated with quality of life in PD patients. After their identification a discussion about opportunities of improvement patient’s quality of life can be opened. Current drug therapies for human PD with Levodopa or various dopamine receptor agonists offer symptomatic relief and appear to have little effect on the neurodegenerative process. More than 50% of patients with PD treated over 5 years with Levodopa will develop complications such as motor fluctuations and dyskinesia’s. In this scenario, slowing the progression of PD through neuroprotective or restorative therapy is a major focus of research. From a pharmacologic standpoint, current strategies involve interrupting the cascade of biochemical events that leads to death of dopaminergic cells. The significance of many indigenous medicinal plants and their phytoconstitutents in the management of Parkinsonism with minimal side effect profile arise in this context.

Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, Dopamine, Lewy bodies.