Knowing the various stages of Parkinson’s can help you cope with changes as they occur. Some people experience the changes over 20 years, while others experience it more quickly.
As the disease progresses, people with Parkinson’s often need to work alongside their doctor. In this timeframe, they may experience new movement symptoms and fluctuations, dyskinesia, swallowing problems, freezing of gait, and imbalance.
People with young-onset PD are more prone to motor fluctuations, while those diagnosed later in age may experience more cognitive changes and non-movement symptoms.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disease that causes the breakdown of cells in the nervous system.
The five stages of Parkinson’s disease are:
Stage 1
- Symptoms at this stage are mild and do not interfere with daily activities.
- Movement symptoms (such as rigidity, tremors, and bradykinesia) affecting just one side of the body
- Mild problems with posture and balance
- Slight difficulty walking
- Mild changes in facial expressions
Stage 2
- Symptoms at this stage become worse, making daily activities more difficult. The person is, however, able to look after themselves.
- Movement symptoms (such as tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia) affect both sides of the body (bilateral)
- Difficulty walking
- Difficulty balancing
- Poor posture
- Reduced facial expressions
Stage 3
At this stage, symptoms are more severe. However, the person is still independent. There is a loss of balance and bradykinesia (slowness of movements) Daily activities such as eating, bathing, and dressing are significantly impaired.
Stage 4
In the fourth stage, independent living is almost impossible due to limitations in daily activities such as eating, bathing, dressing, sleeping, and waking. The person may be able to stand on their own but needs assistance for moving around. A walker may help in the movement without falling.
Stage 5
Symptoms at this debilitating stage become so severe that even standing on one’s own may be impossible. The person becomes bedridden and needs a wheelchair to be moved around.
All daily activities are impaired, requiring a round-the-clock caregiver. Symptoms may include the following:
- Loss of smell
- Delusions – false beliefs that do not change despite conflicting evidence
- Hallucination
- Constipation
- Poor memory
- Vision problems
- Weight loss and sleep disturbances
So, in a nutshell – Parkinson’s disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in a part of the brain, leading to progressive damage to several areas of the brain over many years.
The loss of nerves reduces dopamine in the brain, which plays a vital role in the body’s ability to move. This reduction of dopamine is responsible for several Parkinson’s symptoms, mostly motor symptoms, but the catalyst for losing nerve cells remains unclear.
Whilst it is unclear as to who is most at risk for Parkinson’s’ Disease, research suggests the cause is due to a mixture of genetic and environmental factors.
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