
Learn to communicate about parkinsonism with respectful language, describing individuals as living with Parkinson's or parkinsonism and treating Parkinson's as a medical condition, not a disease.
Identify motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinsonism, showing how muscle movement issues coexist with non-motor challenges such as psychiatric problems.
Explore falls in parkinsonism caused by gait and balance problems, freezing of gait, rigidity, tremor, and cognitive factors, and learn risk reduction through environment, aids, footwear, and rhythmic movement.
Understand postural hypotension as a drop in blood pressure when standing, causing dizziness or potential collapse. Adopt lifestyle changes and medications, noting it is more common in Parkinson plus syndromes.
Cognition declines as parkinsonism advances, with reduced focus and concentration, forgetfulness, and disconnection from the environment, potentially progressing to dementia in advanced stages.
Explore young onset parkinsonism, defined as parkinsonism before age 50, and address social pressure, financial burden, and psychiatric issues like anxiety and dementia needing health care providers and support workers.
Diagnosing parkinsonism relies on a clinical approach, as no single test confirms Parkinson's disease. Take a history, perform a clinical exam, and use labs or imaging to exclude other conditions.
Levodopa serves as a dopamine replacement for Parkinson's patients, but its short half-life leads clinicians to combine it with benserazide or carbidopa, and with duo dopa to control symptoms.
Explore how dopamine agonists mimic dopamine in the brain, their effectiveness, and risks like impulse control disorders. Do not prescribe to patients with gambling activities or other addictive impulses.
MAO-B and COMT inhibitors slow dopamine breakdown, extending the action of intrinsic dopamine and levodopa. Using these inhibitors as supporting drugs with levodopa benefits Parkinson's disease therapy.
Amantadine: While this medication offers limited relief for the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s, it is particularly effective in managing dyskinesia. Therefore, it may be prescribed to individuals experiencing this complication. However, due to its potential for numerous side effects, it is not as commonly prescribed as other medications for Parkinson’s.
Anticholinergic drugs: These medications function by blocking the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which tends to be more active in individuals with Parkinson’s. Excessive activity of acetylcholine can contribute to tremors. Anticholinergic drugs may be utilized in younger individuals who exhibit prominent tremors. However, older individuals may experience confusion and hallucinations as side effects. These medications can improve motor symptoms such as tremors and bradykinesia, as well as address issues like drooling.
Apomorphine: This medication belongs to the dopamine agonist class and is administered via injection into the body's fatty tissue. It may be administered through multiple injections or a continuous pump. Apomorphine is typically reserved for individuals who do not respond adequately to other medications or are unable to take oral tablets. It can be used in conjunction with levodopa. This treatment offers rapid relief during "off" periods but requires specialized training and equipment for administration. It is commonly employed in individuals with advanced and complex Parkinson’s.
Explore how deep brain stimulation relieves advanced and complex Parkinson's disease by implanting a pulse generator and electrode wires that deliver high-frequency brain stimulation to reduce tremors, bradykinesia, and dyskinesia.
According to NICE guidelines, deep brain stimulation (DBS) is typically reserved for individuals with advanced and complex Parkinson’s symptoms that are not adequately managed by the best available medical therapy.
DBS involves a surgical procedure aimed at alleviating primarily the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s. During the procedure, a pulse generator is implanted beneath the skin of the chest or abdomen. This generator is connected to specific regions of the brain via one or two fine electrode wires.
Once in place, the generator emits high-frequency stimulation to the brain through the electrode wires. This modulation of electric signals in the brain helps alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms.
The DBS generator may be either fixed-life or rechargeable. For those with a rechargeable device, recharging is necessary using a device placed over the site of the generator. The frequency and duration of recharging vary depending on the device model.
DBS has shown effectiveness in improving motor symptoms such as tremor, bradykinesia, and dyskinesia. Although there are risks associated with the procedure, the likelihood of these complications is minimal and may include stroke, infection, device malfunction, and headache.
Plan for Parkinson's by creating a will, lasting power of attorney, and directives. Discuss preferences with your medical team and loved ones to guide care under Mental Capacity Act 2005.
This is a comprehensive course on Parkinsonism. This course will give you a complete understanding of Parkinson's disease causality, identification, diagnosis, medical and non-medical management, alternative therapy, and the role of allied medical practitioners in Parkinson's management. In addition, you would learn how it feels to live with Parkinsonism, and how to reduce complications and improve patient care and outcomes.
The curriculum includes videos, audio narrations, written articles, images, and a quiz. It is created in such a way that everyone can understand the contents completely, no matter if you are a medical doctor or come from a non-medical background. This course provides you with reliable, and evidence-based information from the latest guidelines.
The author of this course is currently a medical doctor in an NHS trust hospital in the UK. In his 13 years of medical experience, he has seen and taken part in managing thousands of Parkinson's disease patients. The author spent considerable time, and effort to create this masterpiece. The course is divided into five comprehensive but easy-to-understand modules.
At the end of this course, you will have more than enough competency in providing correct and adequate care plans to people living with Parkinsonism. If you are a Parkinson's disease patient or a healthcare/ fitness provider dealing with Parkinson's patients then this course is a must to take.