The Leading Cause Of Parkinson's Disease
When a patient has lost nearly 80% of their dopamine cells, these symptoms being to appear. It is currently unknown why dopamine-producing cells deteriorate, but many theories lead to genetic, environmental, and age-related factors. Genetics factors cause of Parkinson’s disease through a mutation in the genes responsible for dopamine and other vital proteins. Environmental factors are thought to be associated with Parkinson’s in that exposure to certain toxins such as pesticides can play a significant role in the abnormal levels of dopamine produced. Age is also a definitive factor of the disease, because people under the age of 60 are rarely diagnosed (Triarhou,
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After Levodopa crosses the blood-brain barrier, it is converted into dopamine by DOPA decarboxylase. Levodopa is typically administered with another drug called Carbidopa, which helps prevent enzymes from breaking down the synthetic dopamine produced. In return, these two drugs together help to restore the depleted dopamine, which leads to an increase in motor function. Other drugs that aid in treating Parkinson’s include dopamine agonists, which help to reduce the dopamine turnover and mimic dopamine to stimulate it within the brain. Dopamine agonists have an advantage in that they act directly on the postsynaptic receptors and do not need to be modified by enzymes in the brain to be effective unlike Levodopa. (parkinsons in older patients book). There are also medications in a class of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitors that works to inhibit this MAO-B enzyme which is known to degrade dopamine. Selegiline and Rasagiline are examples of MAO-B inhibitors. Finally, anticholinergic drugs have been administered to repair the imbalance of the dopamine and acetylcholine present in the pathways. Anticholinergic drugs including Benzhexol and Orphenedrine have worked to decrease the amount of acetylcholine present in patients with Parkinson’s. Many useful medications, such as the ones mentioned above, can be prescribed to help reduce symptoms in patients but there are also other techniques that can be utilized (Playfer,
After Levodopa crosses the blood-brain barrier, it is converted into dopamine by DOPA decarboxylase. Levodopa is typically administered with another drug called Carbidopa, which helps prevent enzymes from breaking down the synthetic dopamine produced. In return, these two drugs together help to restore the depleted dopamine, which leads to an increase in motor function. Other drugs that aid in treating Parkinson’s include dopamine agonists, which help to reduce the dopamine turnover and mimic dopamine to stimulate it within the brain. Dopamine agonists have an advantage in that they act directly on the postsynaptic receptors and do not need to be modified by enzymes in the brain to be effective unlike Levodopa. (parkinsons in older patients book). There are also medications in a class of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitors that works to inhibit this MAO-B enzyme which is known to degrade dopamine. Selegiline and Rasagiline are examples of MAO-B inhibitors. Finally, anticholinergic drugs have been administered to repair the imbalance of the dopamine and acetylcholine present in the pathways. Anticholinergic drugs including Benzhexol and Orphenedrine have worked to decrease the amount of acetylcholine present in patients with Parkinson’s. Many useful medications, such as the ones mentioned above, can be prescribed to help reduce symptoms in patients but there are also other techniques that can be utilized (Playfer,