Parkinson's disease is a disorder affecting the brain--specifically, the areas that control movement. Physical signs of this disease may include muscle tremors, balance problems and stiffness of the muscles. Organizations and hospitals around the world have developed care centers offering diagnosis, treatment and support.
Treatments
While there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, there are several options for treatment that can be determined and administered at a Parkinson's Disease Center. Some patients respond well to medications, while others might opt for surgical intervention such as deep brain stimulation--a procedure that shows promise for helping the brain control movement. Sw.org tags this procedure as having a brain pacemaker.
Services
Most Parkinson's Centers offer education for patients, families and health professionals, including information to help learn about living with the disease and its challenges. Participants learn make decisions for long-term-care planning, tools for living well and updates on new treatments.
Your physician will work with the family to prescribe a personalized treatment plan designed to meet the needs of the individual patient.
There are also training seminars for professional caregivers interested in specializing in Parkinson's patients.
Famous Centers
Among the better known centers, Struthers Parkinson's Center, in Golden Valley, Minnesota, offers a variety of services including disease assessment, education, research, treatment and support for patients and families. It publishes a newsletter that can be viewed online.
The University of Maryland established the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center. Along with services provided by most centers, this organization offers patient education seminars, online question and answer links, clinical research trials in which patients can be targeted for new medicine research, a health library, and toll-free numbers for referrals.
Columbia University Medical Center's Department of Neurology in New York City provides diagnosis and treatment for several movement disorders, including Parkinson's Disease, Tourette syndrome, tremors and dystonia. It offers genetic counseling for individuals who may be at risk and accepts referrals from around the globe.
Risk Factors
This disease affects mainly people over the age 60, with men having a higher risk than women. If there is a family history of Parkinson's, it may be passed on to children of an affected parent. Other possible risk factors include exposure to well water, pesticides and herbicides from rural living or farming.
Ratings
Healthgrades.com offers a free service where you can research a physician, hospital or nursing home before choosing the center that is best for you. Consumerreports.org also offers a subscription based service that allows the user to find the rating of any hospital in the country.
Tags: Parkinson Disease, control movement, diagnosis treatment, patients families, treatment support