The number of people in the world with Parkinsons disease will double by 2030, according to Doctor Sarwar Siddiqui, Consultant Neurologist, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH). Though the cause of the disease is still not known, remarkable progress has been made to answer questions about this disorder of the central nervous system.
What research has shown is that though Parkinsons cannot be prevented or cured, it can be managed. A holistic approach including medication, physiotherapy and, if necessary, surgery can help people live almost normal lives. Explaining the disease, Dr Mughis Sheerani, Consultant Neurologist, AKUH, said the human brain produced a chemical, dopamine, which helped muscles move flexibly and smoothly, assisting in movement.
In people with Parkinsons, this part of the brain loses its ability to produce dopamine and a shortage of the chemical in the body leads to the symptoms of the disease. These include tremors when arms, hands and legs begin to shake, slow movement, stiffness and difficulty with balance.
Most people develop Parkinsons after the age of 60. The impact of this disease on a patient and their family members is significant, as people with Parkinsons often develop psychological conditions, such as depression, in addition to suffering from the muscular effects of the disease.
Dr Nadir Ali Syed, Consultant Neurologist, AKUH, observed that Parkinsons was not uncommon in Pakistan, and it was important that people became aware of its signs and symptoms so they could seek medical and psychological support to control it. To raise awareness about Parkinsons disease and its management and to share new information available, AKUH will hold a programme on World Parkinsons Day at AKU Auditorium that is open to the public.-PR