Parkinson's syndromeParkinson's disease is the most common neurological movement disorder. In Germany, it is estimated that about 400.000 people affected by Parkinson's disease. This chronic disease mainly affects older people, but can also affect people around the age of 40. Occur at the age of 18 or even earlier. Thereby the so called
ideopathic Parkinson's syndrome/Morbus Parkinson most common. Ideopathic means that no direct cause can be found. In addition, there are other, rarer Parkinson's diseases that are genetically determined or caused by other causes. Parkinson's can cause different symptoms.
Parkinson's Syndrome
You have Parkinson or. the Parkinson's syndrome?
Make an appointment with our specialists.
Do you have questions about the Parkinson's syndrome? Call us at +49 (0)228 90 75 0
Our Neurosurgeons can also help you with other complaints.
Symptoms Parkinson / Parkinson's disease / Parkinson's syndrome
The typical motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease are tremor, muscle stiffness (rigor), slowing of movement (bradykinesia) and sometimes postural instability. Symptoms of Parkinson's often begin on one side of the body. Can increase in frequency or intensity over time.
Thus, a slight tremor can turn into a real shaking, a slight muscle stiffness into a strong stiffness, a slowing down of movements into a partial standstill of movements, and the initial uncertainty to keep the balance or certain body positions or movements into an extensive postural instability, which can lead, for example, to a severe postural deformity. requires a wheelchair. The slowing of movement also affects facial expressions, speech, swallowing movements and especially movement with the hands or. the fine motor skills (e.g. writing), but also walking. In muscle stiffness, the muscles are involuntarily tensed, which can cause pain in the muscles, tension and poor posture. The tremor is often relatively quiet and slow in Parkinson's disease, when for example. the arms are in the resting position, but increases significantly during movements. Postural instability initially manifests itself only in minor unsteadiness when walking and standing, but can also contribute to the fact that a change in the direction of movement or a "turn" becomes almost impossible, up to the point that affected persons fall down.
In addition to these typical motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease, other disorders may occur, such as sensory disturbances, circulatory disorders, bladder as well as gastrointestinal disorders, sexual dysfunctions, mood swings, depression, sleep disturbances. In addition, the Parkinson's drugs can also cause side effects.
An overview of Parkinson's symptoms:
– onset of the disease often affecting only one side of the body – tremor – muscle stiffness (rigor) – slowing of movement (bradykinesis) – postural instability – other disturbances, such as dysfunction of the motor system. Sensory disturbances, circulatory disturbances, bladder/stomach/intestinal disturbances, sexual dysfunctions, mood swings, depression, sleep disturbances
Cause Parkinson / Parkinson's disease / Parkinson's syndrome
The typical motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease are essentially an expression of the loss of special brain cells that regulate and coordinate movements via the neurotransmitter dopamine. The actual cause of the brain cell loss in the so-called neurodegenerative Parkinson's forms, i.e. also the ideopathic Parkinson's syndrome, which accounts for the majority of all Parkinson's diseases, is still unclear. However, several factors triggering or maintaining the disease process could be identified. These factors are currently the subject of intensive research efforts for the therapy of Parkinson's disease.
In very rare cases – and then usually associated with an earlier onset of the disease – the disease is clearly genetically determined. The underlying gene alteration (mutation) is now known for some forms (PARK2, PARK6 u. a.) and can be detected by genetic testing in the blood.
Occasionally, Parkinson's syndrome can also be triggered by a stroke (cerebral infarction), by medication or by exposure to toxic substances.
Diagnosis Parkinson / Parkinson's disease / Parkinson's syndrome
The diagnosis of Parkinson's is only made after a comprehensive neurological-orthopedic examination. Imaging techniques such as MRI are also frequently used to differentiate between various diseases that cause similar or partly the same symptoms as Parkinson's disease.
Therapy Parkinson / Parkinson's disease / Parkinson's syndrome
Nowadays, a large number of well effective drugs are available to control Parkinson's symptoms. In addition, concomitant treatments such as physiotherapy, speech therapy or occupational therapy play a decisive role. In this way, the motor problems, which include motor speech difficulties, can be treated.
The individual treatment strategy depends, on the one hand, on whether the typical Parkinson's disease (ideopathic Parkinson's syndrome) or one of the more rare atypical Parkinson syndromes (genetic or caused by medications, toxic substances, stroke, etc. conditionally) is present. On the other hand, the therapy must be adapted to the stage of the disease and the prevailing problems. In the course of the disease, these can consist of so-called motor on-off fluctuations (rapid alternation between lack of movement and good movement) and drug-triggered over-movements (dyskinesias), but can also affect other areas such as autonomic functions, sleep, and the mental state.
In particular, patients with advanced Parkinson's disease, severe gait disturbances, severe tremor and pronounced over-movements (dyskinesias) can now benefit very well from deep brain stimulation (THS). The (THS) influences the pathologically altered brain structures by sending electrical impulses to the affected brain areas and stimulating or deactivating them depending on the desired effect. The necessary electrodes are used in the minimally invasive stereotactic brain surgery.
Read more about deep brain stimulation (THS) for the Treatment of Parkinson's disease
Beta Klinik Service-, Verwaltungs- und Forschungs- GmbH
Private specialist and clinic center
Joseph-Schumpeter-Allee 15 53227 Bonn, Germany
Phone: +49 228 90 75 – 0 Fax: +49 228 90 75 – 11
The Beta Klinik (inpatient area, emergency room) is open continuously.
Consultation hours for specialty outpatient clinics and affiliated practices:
Monday to Thursday
8 a.m. – 6 p.m
Friday from 8 – 14.30 clock
After consultation also earlier or later. Our duty doctor is also available at weekends. On holidays around the clock by telephone to the side. Provides advice on medical concerns or contacts specialists in necessary areas of expertise.