Is there a test in which you ’ re able to measure the level of dopamine in the brain ? The DaTscan ( DaT = Dopamine Transporters ) detects the presence of dopamine in the brain . It can
“ also detect Parkinson ’ s Disease and is accurate in 98 percent of patients . However , the DaTscan is
usually not done , because the disease is often clinically obvious . An MRI is sometimes performed to exclude other conditions , but is usually not necessary with classical symptoms .
”
Once a patient has been diagnosed with the disorder , how do you go about administering treatment ?
The first thing I do is determine if the symptoms exhibited are mild or severe .
“
If the symptoms are mild and the patient has little to no cognitive impairment , then I may prescribe a neuroprotective substance like MAO B inhibitors . These have been shown to delay the progression of Parkinson ’ s Disease . They are given so that more dopamine is available in the brain for a longer period of time . I also highly recommend rigorous exercise 60 minutes a day for five days a week . This has shown significant delay in the onset of Parkinson ’ s Disease . There are antioxidant properties to exercise , and it helps with memory . There are other physical activities which can help the brain such as dancing and balancing exercises , tai chi , yoga and mindfulness meditation .
”
If a patient follows all a doctor ’ s recommendations and uses the appropriate medicine , can Parkinson ’ s Disease go away ?
Once Parkinson ’ s Disease comes , it is there forever . But , patients can still have a natural life span .
“
The main difficulties arise from complications due to the disease ’ s symptoms . For example , they may
have difficulty breathing or swallowing , or fall frequently . Those are dangerous symptoms which must be considered .
”
Will you be seeing these patients for the rest of their lives ? Practically . When they get severe to the point that medication is no longer very beneficial , I have
“ colleagues that I refer these patients to for neurological stimulation .
”
Do you see many patients with early-onset Parkinson ’ s Disease ? Sometimes , yes . I had a man visit me who was fairly young . He was in a meeting and his hand
“ started shaking without his control . The only symptom he had was tremors , but it was still good that
he sought medical attention right away .
”
4 VITAL SIGNS Volume 13 • Issue 1
Is there a test in which you’re able to measure the level of dopamine in the brain?
The DaTscan (DaT = Dopamine Transporters) detects the presence of dopamine in the brain. It can
“ also
detect Parkinson’s Disease and is accurate in 98 percent of patients. However, the DaTscan is
usually not done, because the disease is often clinically obvious. An MRI is sometimes performed to
exclude other conditions, but is usually not necessary with classical symptoms.
”
Once a patient has been diagnosed with the disorder, how do you go about administering
treatment?
“ The first thing I do is determine if the symptoms exhibited are mild or severe.
If the symptoms are mild and the patient has little to no cognitive impairment, then I may prescribe
a neuroprotective substance like MAO B inhibitors. These have been shown to delay the pr ɕͥ)Aɭͽé͕͔Q䁅ɔٕͼѡЁɔ́مѡɅȁ)ɥѥ$ͼɕɥɽ́ɍ͔ѕ́䁙ȁٔ́ݕQ)́͡ݸͥЁ䁥ѡ͕ЁAɭͽé͕͔QɔɔѥᥑЁɽѥ́Ѽ)ɍ͔Ё́ݥѠ丁Qɔɔѡȁͥѥ٥ѥ́ݡѡɅՍ)ɍ͕̰х彝ձ́хѥ+t)%ѥЁ́ѽˊéɕѥ͕́́ѡɽɥє)Aɭͽé͕͔݅)=Aɭͽé͕͔̰Ё́ѡɔɕٕȸ аѥ́ѥٔɅ+p)Qձѥ́ɥ͔ɽѥ́ՔѼѡ͕͗éѽ̸ȁᅵѡ䁵)ٔձ䁉ɕѡȁ݅ݥȁɕՕѱ丁Q͔ɔɽ́ѽ́ݡ)ͥɕ+t)]ԁ͕ѡ͔ѥ́ȁѡɕЁѡȁٕ)ѡ䁝Ё͕ٕɔѼѡЁѡЁѥ́ȁٕ䁉$ٔ+pAɅѥ丁])Օ́ѡЁ$ɕȁѡ͔ѥ́Ѽȁɽѥձѥ+t)ԁ͕ѥ́ݥѠɱ䵽͕ЁAɭͽé͕͔+p)Mѥ̸̰$٥ͥЁݡ݅́ɱչ!݅́ѥ́)хѕ͡ݥѡЁ́ɽQѽ݅́ɕ̰ЁЁ݅́ѥѡ)ͽ՝ЁѕѥɥЁ݅($+t)Y%Q0M% 9LYյ̃%Ք