Parkinson's Disease and Dementia: Key Points and Treatment Options

Parkinson's Disease

• Cause:
  • Malfunction and death of dopamine-producing neurons.
  • Leads to a decline in dopamine levels and motor function.
• Main Symptoms:
  • Tremors
  • Stiffness
  • Bradykinesia (slowness of movement)
• Treatment Options:
  • Dopamine Agonists:
    • Mimic effects of natural dopamine, reducing symptoms such as tremors, stiffness, and slowness.
    • Examples include:
      • Rinol (Requip)
      • Pramipexol (Mirapex)
    • Prescribed in early stages or in combination with other medications.
  • Levodopa:
    • Used to boost dopamine levels in the brain.
    • Often combined with Carbidopa to prevent conversion of dopamine outside the brain, ensuring more dopamine reaches the brain.

Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease

• Characteristics:
  • Progressive cognitive decline.
  • Gradual decrease in ability to perform daily activities.
  • Symptoms include memory loss, difficulty with abstract thinking, disorientation, and confusion.
• Alzheimer's Disease:
  • A primary form of dementia.
  • Involves progressive death of brain cells, leading to severe cognitive decline.
• Treatment Strategies:
  • Symptom Management:
    • Cholinesterase Inhibitors:
      • Boost levels of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for cognitive functions and motor skills.
      • Example: Denzil (Aricept).
    • CNS Agent:
      • Memantine (Namenda) used to manage symptoms.

Summary

• Parkinson's Disease:
  • Characterized by motor function decline due to loss of dopamine-producing neurons.
  • Managed with drugs like dopamine agonists.
• Dementia (including Alzheimer's):
  • Characterized by decline in cognitive function due to dying neurons.
  • Treatments involve cholinesterase inhibitors to slow progression.