Parkinson's

Question 1

Q: At what age does Parkinson’s Disease prevalence peak?

Answer 1

A: Ages 60–64.

Question 2

Q: What percentage of the population over 50 is affected by Parkinson’s Disease?

Answer 2

A: Approximately 1%.

Question 3

Q: How common is Parkinson’s Disease before age 40?

Answer 3

A: It rarely occurs.

Question 4

Q: Is Parkinson’s Disease more common in men or women?

Answer 4

A: Men.

Question 5

Q: Do Parkinson’s patients typically retain normal cognition?

Answer 5

Q: Do Parkinson’s patients typically retain normal cognition?

Question 6

Q: What percentage of Parkinson’s patients meet the criteria for dementia?

Answer 6

A: 40%.

Question 7

Q: What are the key motor symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease?

Answer 7

A: Rigidity, resting tremor, and poor balance.

Question 8

Q: What are other motor symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease?

Answer 8

A: Stooped posture, slowness of movement, reduced motor initiation, decreased facial expression, slowed speech, low voice amplitude, and reduced blink rate.

Question 9

Q: What is the most commonly reported non-motor impairment in Parkinson’s Disease?

Answer 9

A: Visuo-spatial deficits.

Question 10

Q: Is memory typically impaired in Parkinson’s Disease?

Answer 10

A: No, memory is not impaired.

Question 11

Q: Is depression common in Parkinson’s Disease?

Answer 11

A: Yes, though it is unclear if it is a symptom or a medication side effect.

Question 12

Q: How is Parkinson’s Disease typically diagnosed?

Answer 12

A: Through physical symptoms and case history.

Question 13

Q: What modern technique is used to assess dopamine uptake in Parkinson’s patients?

Answer 13

A: PET scans with fluoro-dopa.

Question 14

Q: What does the Timed Up-and-Go Test measure?

Answer 14

A: The time it takes to rise from a chair and move.

Question 15

Q: What key finding was made in 1919 about Parkinson’s Disease?

Answer 15

A: Tretiakoff found degeneration in the substantia nigra of Parkinson’s patients.

Question 16

Q: What are Lewy bodies, and what is their role in Parkinson’s Disease?

Answer 16

A: Tightly packed cells with filaments, but their role is unclear.

Question 17

Q: What neurotransmitter is deficient in Parkinson’s Disease?

Answer 17

A: Dopamine.

Question 18

Q: What happens when dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra die?

Answer 18

A: Motor impairments develop.

Question 19

Q: What chemical can induce Parkinson’s-like symptoms by destroying dopamine neurons?

Answer 19

A: 6-hydroxydopamine.

Question 20

Q: How does degeneration of the substantia nigra affect other brain areas?

Answer 20

A: It causes a domino effect, impacting the putamen, globus pallidus, and motor areas.

Question 21

Q: What does a mutation in Chromosome 4 cause in Parkinson’s Disease?

Answer 21

A: Misfolding of alpha-synuclein, which regulates dopamine release.

Question 22

Q: What does a mutation in Chromosome 6 cause in Parkinson’s Disease?

Answer 22

A: Loss of motor function due to Parkin gene mutation.

Question 23

Q: Is Parkinson’s Disease primarily hereditary?

Answer 23

A: No, but there is some genetic influence.

Question 24

Q: Why do many Parkinson’s drugs have limited effectiveness?

Answer 24

A: They fail to cross the blood-brain barrier, and neuronal degeneration continues.

Question 25

Q: What brain region is targeted in newer surgical treatments for Parkinson’s Disease?

Answer 25

A: The subthalamic nucleus.

Question 26

Q: What techniques are used during surgery to ensure precision?

Answer 26

A: A stereotaxic frame, CT scans, and continuous patient assessment.

Question 27

Q: What is the goal of stem cell therapy in Parkinson’s Disease?

Answer 27

A: To grow and implant dopamine-producing neurons in affected areas.