Parkinsons

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive condition caused by reduced levels of a chemical called dopamine in the brain. This can cause tremor, slowness of movement and rigidity of muscles.

Parkinson’s is a chronic and advancing neurological condition. Clinical presentation is considered to result from the increasing deterioration and death of dopamine-producing neurons located within the basal ganglia situated at the base of the forebrain. The resulting shortage of dopamine is believed to be one of the major factors in the development and progression of Parkinson’s symptoms. The basal ganglia play a key role in well-learnt, voluntary and semi-automatic motor skills and movement. The dopamine they produce also supports cognitive skills such as, attentional and executive abilities, motivation, mood and visual perception. Further changes in associated brain regions and in other neurotransmitters are also believed to be involved in Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s progresses into a highly complex condition with most people experiencing physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms. The results affect a breadth of activities and limit participation in everyday life.
Currently, no conclusive scan or test can diagnose Parkinson’s. Physical examination and self-reporting would determine, through clinical evaluation, a diagnosis. Typical motor symptoms seen in Parkinson’s are also present in a variety of associated, but distinct, Parkinsonian disorders. These include conditions such as Lewy body dementia, multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). These have a distinct prognosis and therefore require different approaches to those used for Parkinson’s.

‘Parkinson’s is a common neurodegenerative disorder and the average age at diagnosis is older than 60 years. The incidence and prevalence of Parkinson’s in the UK has recently been reviewed and as a result in late 2017 it was estimated that around 145,000 people in the UK have been diagnosed with the condition; that’s about one in 350 adults in the UK. And, Parkinson’s diagnoses are set to rise by nearly a fifth by 2025’ (Parkinson’s UK 2017).

The main motor symptoms of Parkinson’s are:

Akinesia: poverty of movement
Bradykinesia: slowness of movement
Hypokinesia: reduced scaling of movements, affecting many motor activities, including balance, co-ordination, speech, swallowing, handwriting, and facial expression
Rigidity: raised and sustained high muscle tone and stiffness
Rest tremor: involuntary fine movements, which usually begin in one hand or leg. This symptom only affects about 70 per cent of people with Parkinson’s
Postural instability

Non-motor symptoms include:

Autonomic failure: for example, a sudden fall in blood pressure on rising from lying or sitting, extreme sweating or episodes of feeling very hot or very cold
Continence problems, including, constipation, urine urgency and nocturia
Sexual health issues: for example, erectile dysfunction or reduced libido
Fatigue
Pain
Sleep disturbances, including insomnia and/or disturbing dreams
Cognitive impairments are seen in approximately 75% of people with Parkinson’s
Visual hallucinations
Dementia

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Top tips for living well

INS offers a variety of long term and short-term groups. Some of these groups are for people with a specific neurological condition, while others are open to all neurological conditions. Our groups focus on different areas; some are exercise based, others focus on managing symptoms, while others provide you with an opportunity to try out different activities. Read more

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Integrated Neurological Services (INS) provides support to people who live in the London boroughs of Richmond, Hounslow, Kingston and Wandsworth. If people live just out of these boroughs but can get to us we may still be able to offer some support.

What is a neurological condition?

A neurological condition is a disease, illness or trauma that affects the central or peripheral nervous system. Examples of symptoms include paralysis, tremor, cognitive difficulties, muscle weakness, poor coordination, loss of sensation, seizures, confusion, pain and altered levels of consciousness.

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History of INS

INS is the only organisation in the London area offering long term, professional rehabilitation and support for people with neurological conditions, through its experienced team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and social workers.