Parkinson’s disease

Adaptive equipment and assist devices (Parkinson’s disease)

Items and modifications to help people with disabilities to perform common tasks and activities of daily living (ADLs). The tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia, and dyskinesia of Parkinson’s disease can make everyday tasks, from holding and dialing a telephone to opening doorknobs and typing on a computer, difficult. There are many aids available to customize assistance to […]

Acupuncture (Parkinson’s disease)

A centuries-old method of treatment in which a trained practitioner inserts very fine needles into specific points on the body. in the Eastern medicine perspective in which acupuncture originated, health is a state of balance and illness or disease a state of imbalance of the body’s life energy, or chi. Chi flows along invisible energy […]

Activities of daily living (ADLs) (Parkinson’s disease)

The common functions of everyday life and tasks of daily routine. Clinicians use ADLs as a key measure of independence, treatment effectiveness (particularly as it relates to the fluctuating phenomenon), and, conversely, decline and care needs. Activities of daily living typically include such functions as bathing, toileting, dressing, cooking, eating, cleaning house, and performing other […]

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (Parkinson’s disease)

A medication that prevents the enzyme acetylcholinesterase from metabolizing acetylcholine. This extends the length of time acetylcholine is active in the brain. Acetyl-cholinesterase inhibitors are prescribed primarily to slow the decline in cognitive function that occurs with Alzheimer’s disease. These medications seem to have a similar action in many people with Parkinson’s disease. But as […]

Alcohol and Parkinson's disease

Recent studies show that people who regularly drink light to moderate amounts of alcohol have a lower incidence of Parkinson’s disease than people who drink no alcohol at all. The reasons for these findings remain unclear, however. No clinicians are recommending alcohol consumption as a means to reduce the risk of, or prevent, Parkinson’s disease. […]

Akinesia (Parkinson’s disease)

The absence or lack of movement. Aki-nesia typically manifests in Parkinson’s disease as temporary episodes of “freezing” during movement or difficulty in starting movement such as walking. Although akinesia is one of the classic symptoms of moderate to advanced Parkinson’s disease, not all people with Parkinson’s develop it. As Parkinson’s progresses, those who have akinesia […]

Akathisia (Parkinson’s disease)

An inability to sit still, typically as an aspect of agitation or anxiety. In people with Parkinson’s disease, akathisia is relatively rare and when it does occur is often an adverse reaction to a medication used to treat the disease. Drugs commonly responsible include antipsychotics and antidepressants. The person feels and acts so excited and […]

Agonist (Parkinson’s disease)

A drug or substance that acts as a neurotransmitter. Such a substance sometimes is called a receptor agonist. A dopamine agonist taken to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, for example, activates dopamine receptors in the brain, binding with them in the same manner as does dopamine. The binding is not as strong or as […]

agitation (Parkinson’s disease)

Intense feelings and behaviors that often appear as excitement or extreme restlessness. In general, agitation can be a sign of many conditions including psychosis and age-related dementia. Agitation in Parkinson’s disease can occur as a consequence of the disease’s progression (as a function of dementia and cognitive impairment), a reaction to frustration and lack of […]

aging (Parkinson’s disease)

The natural process of cell growth, decline, and death. Although aging is an inevitable and familiar process, there is much about it that scientists can observe and even measure but do not fully understand. At what point does the body cease to replace cells that die? Is this a biological or chronological point? Why does […]

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