Parkinson’s disease is a severely debilitating disease with no cure discovered till now. The main aim of all of the existing treatment options for Parkinson’s disease is to reduce the intensity of the symptoms and make the life of the patient a little easier. All the treatment methods are based on the symptoms, i.e. they treat the symptoms as and when they occur.
There are several medications available for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Levodopa is the most common medication used for a patient with Parkinson’s disease. Levodopa is given to the patients with the intention of reducing the symptoms of the disease such as stiffness, tremor and slowing of the movements. But since the medication is taken orally, very little amount of it reaches the brain. The mechanism of action of levodopa is stimulating the brain cells to convert it into dopamine. Advances in modern technology discovered other medications when given along with levodopa, allows slow release of the medication and hence an optimal amount of the drug to reach the brain.
Anticholenergics are used along with levodopa. Amantadine may also be used along with levodopa and helps in the reduction of fatigue, tremor and bradykinesia.
Neuroprotective treatments aid in the protection of the brain cells and is seen to be helpful in the patients with early stages of Parkinson’s disease. Selegiline is a drug which inhibits the enzyme monoamine oxidase B. the enzyme breaks down the dopamine in the brain and reduces the time dopamine is available in the brain. Inhibition of this enzyme would increase the time when dopamine is available in the brain and thereby reduces the progression of the disease.
There are surgical treatments also available for Parkinson’s disease. They come into the picture at a very later stage in the progression of the disease. In the earlier stages of the disease, it is attempted to delay the progression, then the symptoms are reduced with the aid of medications, but at a later stage when the patient starts experiencing wearing off, of the medication, surgery may provide some relief.
Pallidotomy and is an ablative procedures where a small area in the brain, which produces the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, is destroyed surgically. This would immediately reduce the symptoms of the disease.
Deep brain stimulation procedures are also conducted in an effort to reduce the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. In this procedure, an electrode is placed within the brain and intermittent stimulation of the abnormal cells which result in the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease is done. It is aimed at restricting the activity of these abnormal cells.
With all these treatment modalities, the quality of life of the patient of Parkinson’s disease might be improved.