Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common late-life neurodegenerative disorders and is widely prevalent around the globe, says consultant neurologist Dr Arsalan Ahmad.
He was conducting a public awareness seminar on ‘Parkinson’s — Secrets, Treatments, Myths and Misconceptions’ on Saturday. The seminar on ‘Bharpoor Zindagi’ was organized by the Shifa International Hospital’s Neurology Division and Pakistan Parkinson’s Society. Dr Arsalan said Parkinson’s disease (PD) varied from person to person. “Even a PD expert has no way of knowing what the future holds for an individual with PD,” he stated. He said: “Most people believe PD only causes movement-related (motor) symptoms such as tremors, stiffness and slowness.”
“But the fact is that invisible symptoms (non-motor ) of PD are common and can affect everyday life including impaired sense of smell, sleep disorders, cognitive symptoms, constipation, bladder symptoms, sweating, sexual dysfunction, fatigue, pain (particularly in a limb), tingling, light-headedness, anxiety and depression. Fortunately many of these non-motor symptoms are highly treatable and one should write down his or her invisible symptoms, discuss them with the doctor and seek treatment. If PD symptoms worsen over days or weeks, then it is critical to search for an underlying cause,” he said.
Dr Arsalan said complete medical history records and medical examinations could help in diagnosing the disease.
“The disease can be managed with medications, surgical options, disease modifying treatment, supportive care, visual cueing, auditory cueing and care of bowel/bladder. It can also be managed through rehabilitation processes such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and the use of home-based devices,” he added.
Keynote guest speaker, Dr Paresh K Doshi from Mumbai’s Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre’s Department of Neurosurgery Coordinator, and Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgical Programme Director also shared his thoughts on ‘Parkinson’s Disease: Beyond Medical Treatment’ through a live teleconference from India. He discussed treatment modalities available with special emphasis on surgical options like deep brain stimulation that he has been successfully performing in India. He also talked about the latest stem cells research conducted globally. “You can improve your lifestyle by ensuring you stay fit and receive adequate sleep and proper nutrition. Exercise is particularly important for improving your mobility, stamina, mood and quality of life,” said Dr Doshi. A documentary about Parkinson’s disease was also exhibited to educate the audience and the caretakers of Parkinson’s patients. Patients suffering from Parkinson’s also shared their experiences with the audience. The event was attended by a large number of Parkinson’s patients and people from all walks of life.
