Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson’s disease causes tremors, movement and balance problems, and difficulties with speech and cognition. If you have symptoms of this condition, talk to board-certified neurologist Paul Gill, MD, at Gill Neuroscience in Houston, Texas. Dr. Gill is a highly experienced expert in brain and nervous system disorders like Parkinson’s disease, offering treatments that keep symptoms controlled for longer. Call Gill Neuroscience to arrange a consultation or book online today.

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease causes central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) degeneration. It develops when brain cells in a region of your midbrain called the substantia nigra die. The reason why this happens is unclear.

The cells that die contain dopamine, a chemical messenger (neurotransmitter) that enables brain cells to make connections. As your dopamine levels fall, you develop movement-related physical problems and cognitive (thinking) problems that worsen over time.

What symptoms does Parkinson’s disease cause?

In its early stages, the most apparent Parkinson’s disease symptoms are shaking, slowed movement, rigidity, and difficulty walking. You might have trouble starting or continuing to move when walking or getting up from a chair. You’re also likely to suffer from shaking and tremors.

Tremors usually affect your limbs when resting or holding an arm or leg out. They tend to go away during movement and may worsen when you’re tired, stressed, or excited. Over time, tremors spread to the feet, head, lips, and tongue.

You might lose fine motor control, making eating more difficult, and your writing might become small and hard to read. Automatic movements like blinking can slow down or stop.

Other Parkinson’s disease symptoms include:

• Constipation
• Difficulty swallowing
• Drooling
• Impaired balance
• Muscle aches and pains (myalgia)
• Shuffling gait
• Rigid or stiff muscles (often beginning in the legs)
• Finger-thumb rubbing (pill-rolling tremor)
• Slow, quiet speech and monotone voice
• Lack of facial expression (mask-like appearance)
• Difficulty sleeping
• Emotional problems
• Sensory issues

Dementia is common in the advanced stages of Parkinson’s disease. Dyskinesia, marked by uncontrolled writhing movements, can also develop.

Dr. Gill has extensive experience treating patients with Parkinson’s disease. The condition is incurable, but several therapies are available that delay its progression and reduce symptoms.

How is Parkinson’s disease treated?

Medications such as levodopa and dopamine agonists help patients manage the early motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. You might also benefit from drugs to treat non-movement-related symptoms like disturbed sleep and emotional problems.

Dietary changes and certain forms of rehabilitation could help reduce your symptoms. Advances in Parkinson’s disease research mean new, cutting-edge treatments like gene therapy, stem cell transplants, and neuroprotective agents are also available.

Deep brain stimulation and surgery can reduce motor symptoms in patients with severe Parkinson’s disease where drugs are ineffective.

Call Gill Neuroscience today or book an appointment online for expert Parkinson’s disease treatment.