Parkinson’s disease: a complex enemy


But medical researchers are making progress. Michael Badejo


P


arkinson’s disease is a disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. It starts gradually and worsens over time. It affects one in every


500 people in Canada. More than 6,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Tremors and shaking of the hands are the first symp-


toms most people think of when they hear the words "Parkinson's disease", but according to Mayo Clinic, other important signs and symptoms include: Slowed movement. Over time, Parkinson's disease


may reduce your ability to move and slow your move- ment, making simple tasks difficult and time-consum- ing. Your steps may become shorter when you walk, or you may find it difficult to get out of a chair. Also, you may drag your feet as you try to walk, making it difficult to move. Rigid muscles. Muscle stiffness may occur in any


part of your body. The stiff muscles can limit your range of motion and cause you pain. Impaired posture and balance. Your posture may become stooped, or you may have balance problems as a result of Parkinson's disease. Loss of automatic movements. In Parkinson's dis-


ease, you may have a decreased ability to perform un- conscious movements, including blinking, smiling or swinging your arms when you walk. Speech changes. You may have speech problems as


a result of Parkinson's disease. You may speak softly, quickly, or slur or hesitate before talking. Your speech may be more of a monotone rather than with the usual inflections. Writing changes. It may become hard to write, and your writing may appear small. Parkinson’s most commonly strikes people between


50 and 70 years old. While the disease can affect teen- agers, only about 10 per cent of cases involve people under 45 years old. The youngest confirmed case of Parkinson’s disease was in a 3-year-old child. Meeting the Parkinson’s challenge


Although the disease has no cure, doctors and re- searchers are making strides in helping people live with Parkinson’s. When Parkinsonism is suspected, pa- tients are generally referred to specialists for treatment through their neurologist or family doctor. According to Dr. Doug Hobson, a movement dis-


order neurologist at the Movement Disorder Clinic at Deer Lodge Centre, Parkinson’s hasn’t been beaten yet because of its complexity. “Typical Parkinson’s tends to progress more slowly than other less common ones. Medications are often designed for typical Parkinson’s, but people may need more input than medication alone. That’s where we come in.” The Movement Disorder Clinic is home to a dy-


namic multidisciplinary team of specialists trained to treat Parkinson’s and other movement disorders. The clinic looks after more than 1,500 clients in Winnipeg and serves more than 5,000 affected individuals in its broader catchment area, which includes Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Ontario, and North Dakota. Because Parkinson’s has a nasty tendency to affect ev-


ery part of a person’s life once it takes hold, the Move- ment Disorder Clinic takes a decidedly multidisci- plinary approach to treatment. The clinic’s partnership with specialists in the Allied Health Network make it a more effective weapon in fighting back against all as- pects of the disease. "The services and professionals we offer include physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech thera- pists, dietitians, genetic counsellors, social workers, and more. Some of the movement disorders we treat in addition to Parkinson’s even have a role for sur- geons. Overall, we try to have a very comprehensive approach,” says Hobson.


In the past year, more than 1,000 people have visited the Movement Disorder Clinic at Deer Lodge Centre for the treatment of Parkinsonism. More than 33,500 people have visited the clinic since it opened in 2006.


This comprehensive approach also makes it easier


for clients, who can receive most of—and often all— the care they need in one visit. One way people living with Parkinson’s can help themselves, says Hobson, is by embracing an active lifestyle. “The only thing we’re convinced can slow down the progression of the disease is exercise. That’s three hours a week of cardio, and I mean actual cardio.” Hobson isn’t satisfied until he can see his patients climb a few flights of stairs without ending up out of breath. “If they can make the change, they have a much better outlook.”


Hope for the future Dr. Hobson finished his formal training in neurolo-


gy in 1987 and has practiced at the MDC for 10 years. He has tracked the clinical trials of dozens of experi- mental medications. He says that over time, their ef- fectiveness is improving. "The Movement Disorder Clinic’s priority is patient


care, but over the years we have been involved in over 40 clinical trials into new treatments and assist other


researchers by recruiting patients with an interest in volunteering to advance the field. For instance, one study is exploring brain imaging as one path to deter- mine new explanations of Parkinson’s and its effects on specific areas of the brain. Understanding this could be key to treating it and managing it more effectively.” Hobson commends Allied Health’s continued research in the area, as well as the teaching they do out of the clinic to future doctors undergoing residencies in neu- rology. Additionally, organizations like the Michael J. Fox Foundation, equally committed to curing Parkin- son’s, are employed in an abundance of research proj- ects worldwide. All aspects of the disease—including possible causes, assessment techniques, and potential treatments and cures—are under investigation. “We’re making progress,” says Hobson. “We know much more now than we did 30 years ago. For in- stance, we know which cells are affected, and there’s an abnormal protein involved. But no matter what we learn, our first commitment is to helping people live with the disease today. And we’re getting better at that all the time.”


Connect with us online You are not alone. We are here to help.


If you or someone you know has Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, visit alzheimer.mb.ca or call 204-943-6622 for help.


More than shakes and tremors, Parkinson’s disease can take a toll on every aspect of a sufferer’s life. There’s no cure—but there is hope.


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6 www.lifestyles55.net October 2017


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