The Impact of DaTscan on the Diagnosis and Management of Movement Disorders: A Retrospective Study. New and evolving diagnostic tests are always exciting. Especially if these tests could possibly lead us to a cure for those diseases that currently have only treatment, but no cures. Parkinson 's is a progressively degenerative disease, which affects millions of people every year. Patients suffering from Parkinson 's incur high costs from drug therapy, fall-related injuries, and hospitalizations. By diagnosing this disease earlier, treatment can be started earlier and hopefully the symptoms can be delayed and less severe for a longer period of time giving the patient a better quality of life. However, with any new test we must use statistical measures to determine if these tests are truly making a difference. This search was performed using articles in Pubmed and PMC from the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health using the key terms Parkinson 's disease, parkinsons diagnosis, and DaTscan. No print sources were used during this research. In the current times of change and technology, by the time an article or book is written, edited, sent to press, and distributed to stores, libraries, etc it is already old news. For the most up to date information, the Internet is usually where the most relevant information can be found. However, with any media source, it is important to use information from reputable sources. Parkinson 's disease is one of
Simply because the imaging methods used such as CCT or an MRI are structural neuroimaging methods that cannot provide characteristics that are generally featured in PD, both which are commonly tools used by physicians. However, it is possible for the physician to use functional neuroimaging methods such as PET and SPECT, which are definitive and more accurate in diagnosing patient’s first sign of parkinsonism. This form of early diagnosis does come with a hefty price that many cannot afford along with the fact that it is not broadly available in many clinics or imaging centers. With that said a new method, the TCS is more reliable in effectively diagnosing early symptoms of PD. It was concluded that with the use of the TCS “up to 90%” of patients have shown an enlarged echogenic size (hyperechogenicity) of the substantia nigra (SN). An enlarged echogenic of the SN leads to a diminishment of the nerves in the SN, that is seen in PD. The nerve cells in SN are responsible for control of movements and coordination by sending out signals to tissues on both sides of the brain. A 37-month study led by multiple researchers have determined that an enlarged SN was correlated with a higher risk for PD. TCS has also been known to precisely diagnosis the severity and differentiation of PD patients, distinguishing how sensitive and the specificity of individual patients.
Parkinson’s disease, a type of dementia also known as idiopathic or primary parkinsonism, paralysis agitans, or hypokinetic rigid syndrome/HRS, is on the rise in the U.S. Each year there are over 60,000 new cases in the U.S. alone. With the average person diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease over the age of 65 and America’s rapidly growing elderly population, awareness and concern are becoming significant points of interest for many healthcare professionals.
Although the etiology of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) is unknown, it is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) of ventral midbrain region [9]; [1]. Its prevalence is associated with age. Approximately 1% of the population is affected at 65–70 years of age, which increases to 4–5% in 85-year-olds [2]. Various epidemiological studies and pathological analyses have demonstrated that mean age of onset in sporadic PD, which accounts for about 95% of cases of Parkinsonism is 70 years [7]; [3]. Familial form of Parkinson’s disease is linked to genetic mutations and has prevalence rate of 4%. Familial Parkinson’s disease patients develop early-onset disease before the age of 50
Follow-up with all participants and ensuring minimum loss to follow- up is challenging, especially when considering age and mortality rate of Parkinson disease population.
Disease risks are uprising and are showing differences in specific sexes. Most clinical trials have a majority of female participants. A clinical trail done in March 2007 and May 2010 of early treated Parkinson’s disease severity; scientist gathered and compared research from male and female candidates. The research contained collected data information of the age at which one was diagnosed, symptoms at diagnosis, and
Parkinson’s disease is difficult to diagnose and many have been misdiagnosed as well. A neurologist who specializes in movement disorders would be the most adept person in making a correct diagnosis through many evaluation techniques. Some techniques to diagnose Parkinson’s include physical examinations, verbal surveys indicating any new medications or environmental exposures and various mental tests. (Clark, 2007)
Parkinson’s disease is a “progressive, degenerative neurological condition that affects a person’s control of their body movements. It is not contagious and not fatal. It is thought to be genetic in a very small percentage of cases.” (Better Health Channel, 2015) There are approximately 80,000 Australians living with Parkinson’s today. The average age of diagnosis is around 65 years of age, however, younger people can be diagnosed with Parkinson’s as well. This is known as Young Onset Parkinson’s which is usually due to genetics. It is quite difficult to diagnose Parkinson’s. There are no laboratory tests so it is important that the diagnosis is made by a specialist like a neurologist (Parkinsons.org.au, 2015).
Just imagine: your muscles going stiff, tremors running through your limbs constantly and the inability to smile and laugh with your grandchildren. This torment is the everyday experiences of a Parkinson's disease sufferer. Parkinson's disease is a growing concern in our nation, and though we know what the symptoms are, we do not know for sure what causes it, or even how to cure it. Throughout this paper, the definition will be described as well as the symptoms and treatment options.
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic brain disorder that limits mobility in patients that are diagnosed with it. Information about the disease was first published in Western medicine in 175 AD, although evidence of it it has been seen since earlier ancient times. Since then, much has been learned about the disease. In the 1960s, the differences in chemicals in the brains of Parkinson’s disease patients were first identified. Researchers now believe that Parkinson’s is caused by the gradual breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. The degeneration of these cells leads to a lack of dopamine in the brain, which makes nerve functioning more difficult as it is harder for the brain to coordinate muscle movement. The gradual breakdown of neurons causes the symptoms of Parkinson’s to worsen as the patient gets older. Since the 1960s, research on Parkinson’s has been ongoing but not yet conclusive.
Neurodegenerative diseases can be described as a malfunction in the neural mechanical processes that take place within the human brain. This malfunction then causes pathological problems associated to behaviors and movements. They are often complex in that the causes may be unknown, although the symptoms can be impactful and debilitating. There has been links to a genetic component being of causation, but they can also arise from alcoholism, tumors, strokes, toxins, chemicals, and viruses (Lehman, 2014). In this paper I will explore a Neurodegenerative disease called Parkinson’s. I will discuss the risk factors, pathophysiology that will include signs and symptoms, pharmacotherapies, diagnostic methods and monitoring,
The Parkinson 's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer 's disease (Lang and Lozano, 1998). It affects about 1% of the population with different ethnic backgrounds throughout the world over the age of 65 (Tanner and Goldman, 1996). The aetiology of Parkinson 's disease is not well understood; however, genetic and environmental factors are thought to play a role (Checkoway and Nelson, 1999). Pathologically, PD is characterised by mitochondrial DNA dysfunction leading to degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (Fig.1) and subsequent reduction in striatal dopamine levels (Longmore, 2014).
To obtain a valid diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, clinicians should examine some motor and non-motor features. The motor features of Parkinson’s disease are characterized by resting tremors, muscular rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural and gait impairment. According to Samii, Nutt, and Ransom, “A resting tremor with a frequency of 3-5 Hz is the first symptom in 70% of Parkinson’s disease patients” (1783). Most people, if they have tremors, do not have this range of frequency. Hand tremors are more common in patients as a presenting sign than foot tremors, and they usually get worse with anxiety and walking. Rigidity is another sign of Parkinson’s disease, which is more prevalent in the tremulous limb. Rigidity is the inability
Parkinson’s Disease (PD), addressed the PICO question directly. The mean age and the stages of
There is no definitive test that can diagnose Parkinson’s disease (PD). Diagnoses by physicians are usually made by looking at a patient’s medical history, observing for particular signs, and performing a comprehensive neurological exam. It can be difficult, however, as the principal symptoms of PD can be similar to those caused by certain medications or other degenerative brain
Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized mainly by physical and psychological disabilities. This disorder was named after James Parkinson, an English physician who first described it as shaking palsy in 1817 (Goetz, Factr, and Weiner, 2002). Jean- Martin Charcot, who was a French neurologist, then progressed and further refined the description of the disease and identified other clinical features of PD (Goetz, Factr, and Weiner, 2002). PD involves the loss of cells that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine in a part of the brain stem called the substansia nigra, which results in several signs and symptoms (Byrd, Marks, and Starr, 2000). It is manifested clinically by tremor,