O Parkinson It is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world, behind only Alzheimer’s. Globally, there are more than 10 million people with the disease. In Brazil, this number reaches 200 thousand. Despite the prevalence, there are still doubts about it, such as its causes and the possibility of healing.
“There is even a term, which in recent years has been very spoken, which is the ‘Parkinson’s epidemic ‘. It is estimated that in 2040, we will have 17 million people with the disease, ”says neurologist Sara Casagrande, from the Hospital das Clínicas.
She is one of the guests of Dr. Roberto Kalilalong with Professor Egberto Reis Barbosa, head of the disturbance outpatient clinic of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine (FMUSP) for “CNN Vital Signs – Dr. Kalil InterviewThis Saturday (26).
In this week’s episode – the second of – Kalil talked to the guests about the symptoms. Contrary to popular belief, tremors are not present in all cases of Parkinson. The slowness is the most common sign of the disease.
“Slowness is critical, it is an important and mandatory symptom for diagnosis. The patient has slow movement, usually on one side of the body. So the lyrics decrease, he walks less arm movement, the leg begins to get a little different to walk,” exemplifies Casagrande.
“In recent years, a phase that is premotor has been identified, before the motor manifestations have emerged. At this stage, you have sleep changes, depression, constipation, loss of smell. This can drag yourself for years, and the diagnosis is never done at this stage. The suspicion comes when the motor frame appears,” he explains.
The teacher explains that there are studies being done to try to treat patients in the most initial phase of the disease before motor symptoms.
Cause is not yet defined and treatment includes physical activity
Parkinson is related to the loss of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that acts, among other functions, in motor control. However, the cause for the fall of this hormone is not yet fully known.
According to Egberto Rei Barbosa, in general, Parkinson arises from a combination of factors: environmental, genetic and aging. “In younger individuals, you think more about genetic factors. When we start later, we think more about environmental factors,” he explains.
There is also no cure for Parkinson. Once the disease is diagnosed, treatment includes the practice of physical activity. “The big question is that we do not have neuroprotective medication. You do not enter treatment in a patient that has no motor symptoms,” says Casagrande. “Physical activity is the only treatment that has an impact of neuroprotection. If you have diagnosis, you have to do physical activity. If you do not have, but have family history or other risks, physical activity is mandatory,” he adds.
Food can also have a significant effect on treatment. “Those who drink coffee are less likely to have the disease. In those who already have the disease, regular use of coffee – three to four cups a day – also offers a protective effect. Another thing that has been studied in recent times is a diet close to the Mediterranean diet. This also seems to have a protective effect on the appearance of the disease,” says Barbosa.
In specific cases, there is also the possibility of surgical intervention, the so -called “deep brain stimulation”. “This surgery is indicated for that patient you are already treating and, after five, six, eight years of illness, begins to have side effects caused by chronic use of medication. And surgical results are good. You can offer a better quality of life for a few more years to the patient, than if you kept working with medication,” concludes Barbosa.
