Background and Context
Parkinson's Disease was first described by James Parkinson in 1817, leading to the establishment of World Parkinson's Day in April 1997 by Parkinson's Europe with support from WHO. The disease awareness month is observed in April annually.
Key Facts
- Type: Progressive neurodegenerative disorder
- Global Burden: Doubled in the last 25 years
- India's Share: Approximately 10% of global cases
- Age of Onset: Usually 5th-6th decade, though younger individuals can also be affected
- Gender Bias: Men are more commonly affected than women
Cardinal Motor Symptoms
- Tremors (resting tremors)
- Bradykinesia (slowness of movement)
- Muscle rigidity
Non-Motor Symptoms
- Constipation
- Sleep disorders
- These can appear years before motor symptoms
Treatment Options
- No definitive cure exists
- Medications can effectively manage symptoms
- Advanced Interventions:
- Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
- MR-guided focused ultrasound
Significance for India
- India accounts for ~10% of global Parkinson's cases
- Early diagnosis remains a challenge due to symptom misinterpretation
- Growing elderly population makes this a significant public health concern
- Need for awareness about early signs like constipation and sleep disorders