Parkinson’s Disease: Basic knowledge

Med Monatsschr Pharm. 2016 Jul;39(7):277-81.
[Article in English, German]

Abstract

Pharmacotherapy in Parkinson’s disease is complex and requires expertise in all health-care professions. Besides idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (IPD) secondary parkinsonism, monogenetic Parkinson’s disease and atypical syndromes need to be differentiated. The prevalence in the European population is estimated to be approximately 1 %. Lifestyle and age are closely linked to IPD. Neurodegeneration with formation of Lewy-bodies and increased oxidative stress in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra are closely linked to IPD. Lewy-bodies show misfolded α-Synuclein. The balance of glutamate, GABA and dopamine is essential for motor complications. Bradykinesia/akinesia, rigidity, rest tremor and postural instability are typical symptoms along with dissymmetry, shuffling gait and camptocormia, micrographia, aphasia, hypophonia, dysphagia, and hypomimia. Early symptoms are akathisia/restlessness, insomnia, somnolence, hyposmia and neck pain. With further progression of IPD, neurons of the ventral tegmental area are affected and lead to non-motor symptoms, which hence are directly related to the underlying disease. Gastric dysmotility, depression, urinary incontinence, excessive sweating, hallucinations, spasticity, muscle pain and Parkinson’s disease dementia are part of IPD.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiparkinson Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Parkinson Disease / diagnosis
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy*
  • Parkinson Disease / etiology*
  • Parkinson Disease / physiopathology
  • Pars Compacta / drug effects
  • Pars Compacta / physiopathology
  • Risk Factors
  • Substantia Nigra / drug effects
  • Substantia Nigra / physiopathology
  • Ventral Tegmental Area / drug effects
  • Ventral Tegmental Area / physiopathology

Substances

  • Antiparkinson Agents