• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Thursday, November 30, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local News
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
    • Search MSR Archives
      • Search Minneapolis Spokesman Archives
      • Search the St. Paul Recorder
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local News
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
    • Search MSR Archives
      • Search Minneapolis Spokesman Archives
      • Search the St. Paul Recorder
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Parkinson’s disease: no cure, but helpful treatments available

by Charles Crutchfield III MD
May 18, 2016
10
SHARES
191
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn

A patient with rosacea shows a more flushed, rosy complexion before treatment (l) than after treatment (r).

Parkinson’s disease is a neurologic disease that affects the way a person moves. Brain cells (neurons) are lost or destroyed and, as a result, a messenger chemical called “dopamine” is reduced.

When dopamine levels are low, the clinical signs of the disease occur. The condition will worsen over time. It often starts with a mild tremor in a hand. It also progresses to produce slow and rigid body movements and poor posture.

 

 

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Incidence

Over 10 million people suffer from Parkinson’s disease worldwide. More than 50,000 patients are diagnosed in the U.S. every year with Parkinson’s disease. There are probably many others who have it and are not diagnosed.

(Courtesy of Dr. Crutchfield)
(Courtesy of Dr. Crutchfield)

Signs and symptoms

  • Shaking hand. A tremor of the hand is often the initial symptom of the disorder.
  • Poor balance or easily lost balance
  • General slowing of movements
  • Shuffling walk with small, short steps.
  • Muscle stiffness with a limited range of motion
  • Speech changes. Soft speech is commonly seen. Loss of emotional variation in speech is also noted.
  • Writing changes. Often handwriting becomes extremely small, called “micrographia.”

 

Causes

- ADVERTISEMENT -
  • Genetic. The disease is more commonly seen in family members. There are several identified genes involved in the development of the disease.
  • Age. The risk of developing Parkinson’s increased with age, although it can occur in younger people. In fact, five percent of patients are diagnosed before age 50.
  • Gender. Men develop the disease almost twice as often as women.

 

Treatment

There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease. The focus of treatment is on management and control of the signs and symptoms of the disease. It is also important to treat the symptoms and slow the progress of the disease.

 

Medications

- ADVERTISEMENT -

There are several medicines designed to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The average cost of treatment is $3,000-$5,000 annually. Surgical intervention can cost upwards of $100,000.

The most common is a medicine called Levodopa, which does a great job initially but loses effect over time. There are several other medications used, including some in combination with Levodopa. Your doctor will recommend the best medicine for your condition.

 

Deep brain stimulation

This has been shown to help in advanced cases to control unwanted movements from earlier treatments and reduce the other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. An electrode is planted deep in the brain, and an energy source is worn on the body. Unfortunately, deep brain stimulation treats symptoms and does not alter the course of the disease.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

 

Exercise

Experts stress how important regular and programmed exercise is to slow the progress of the disease and to make it easier to maintain normal movement, balance and flexibility. There are physical therapists who specialize in designing and supervising exercise programs for patients with Parkinson’s disease. Your doctor will recommend a specialized therapist.

 

Remember, there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but it can be effectively mitigated and, with multiple treatment approaches, the quality of life can be improved.

 

Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD is a board-certified dermatologist and Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He also has a private practice in Eagan, MN. He has been selected as one of the top 10 dermatologists in the United States by Black Enterprise magazine and one of the top 21 African American physicians in the U.S. by the Atlanta Post. Dr. Crutchfield is an active member of the Minnesota Association of Black Physicians, MABP.org.

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Overcoming self-defeating thoughts in ourselves and our children

Next Post

Low-income students getting less preventive dental care

Charles Crutchfield III MD

Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD was the senior medical advisor for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder until his passing on June 21, 2023. He launched and helped organize a weekly Doctor's Advice column where he and other Black physicians offered timely medical advice on pertinent topics in the Black community. Dr. Crutchfield III was a board-certified dermatologist and clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School and a Benedict Distinguished Visiting Professor of biology at Carleton College. He also had a private practice, Crutchfield Dermatology in Eagan, MN. He received his MD and master’s degree in molecular biology and genomics from the Mayo Clinic. He had been selected as one of the top 10 dermatologists in the United States by Black Enterprise magazine. Minnesota Medicine recognized Dr. Crutchfield as one of the 100 Most Influential Healthcare Leaders in Minnesota. Dr. Crutchfield specialized in skincare for people of color and has been selected by physicians and nurses as one of the leading dermatologists in Minnesota for the past 18 years. He was the team dermatologist for the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild and Lynx. Dr. Crutchfield was an active member of both the American and National Medical Associations and president of the Minnesota Association of Black Physicians.

You Might Also Like

No Content Available
Next Post
Low-income students getting less preventive dental care

Low-income students getting less preventive dental care

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts + Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Calendar
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: