Medical fallacies about Parkinson’s disease often lead to misunderstandings about its nature and progression. This degenerative neurological disorder primarily affects movement due to the deterioration of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra, resulting in low dopamine levels in the brain.
Parkinson’s symptoms appear gradually, typically starting with a mild tremor or movement stiffness. As the disease progresses, patients may experience coordination difficulties, posture changes, facial rigidity, impaired smell, mood swings, and sleep disturbances. In some cases, dementia may develop.
This article explores medical fallacies about Parkinson’s disease, debunking common myths and misconceptions to provide a clearer understanding of the condition.
1. Parkinson’s disease only affects movement
One of the common medical fallacies about Parkinson’s disease is that it only affects movement. In reality, patients often experience non-motor symptoms, which may appear before motor symptoms.
These non-motor symptoms include cognitive impairment, dementia, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, pain, loss of motivation or apathy, sexual dysfunction, and bowel incontinence.
Such symptoms are frequently overlooked despite their significant impact on quality of life and their crucial role in disease progression.
2. The treatment loses its effectiveness after a few years
Although there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, medications help greatly in controlling the symptoms. One of the most effective medications is levodopa, which is converted to dopamine in the brain after crossing the cerebrospinal septum.
There is a misconception that levodopa loses its effect after 5 years, but it actually remains effective for decades. However, its effectiveness may decrease as the disease progresses because the neurons that convert levodopa into dopamine deteriorate over time.
Patients may need adjustments in medication dosages or seek different treatment methods over time.
3. Levodopa makes symptoms worse
Some believe that levodopa may worsen the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, but this is not true.
The medication can cause some involuntary movements (dyskinesia), but this is related to the progression of the disease and not due to the medication itself alone. Doctors never recommend delaying the start of treatment for fear of dyskinesia.
4. A tremor in the body always means Parkinson’s disease
Tremor is the most well-known Parkinson’s symptom and characterizes Parkinson’s disease, but it can be caused by other conditions such as:
- Drug-induced Parkinson’s disease
- Vascular Parkinson’s disease
- Essential or primary tremor
- Some other neurological disorders
Therefore, not everyone with Parkinson’s disease has Parkinson’s disease.
5. Doctors can accurately predict the course of the disease
Parkinson’s disease varies from person to person, so doctors cannot accurately predict how each patient’s symptoms will develop.
Studies show that there are significant differences in symptoms between patients, and research is ongoing to understand the reasons for these differences.
Predicting severity and prognosis in Parkinson’s disease from brain microstructure and connectivity
6. All patients with Parkinson’s disease have tremors
Not necessarily. Some patients develop non-motor symptoms first before the onset of tremor, while about 20% of patients may never experience tremor.
7. Parkinson’s disease causes sudden episodes of deterioration
Unlike some diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, the deterioration in Parkinson’s does not occur in sudden attacks but rather progresses gradually.
If your symptoms worsen suddenly, it could be due to:
- Infection
- Anxiety
- Errors or forgetting to take medications
- Side effects of medications
- Due to post-operative complications
Fortunately, most of these causes can be treated.
8. Medications are the only solution
There is a belief that medication is the only way to control and slow down Parkinson’s disease, but this is not true.
Studies show that regular exercise helps improve symptoms and may slow the progression of the disease.
People who exercise for at least 2.5 hours a week experience slower deterioration in their quality of life than other patients.
Exercise also helps improve sleep quality and cognitive function in patients.
9. Parkinson’s disease is a fatal disease
Parkinson’s is not a fatal disease per se, but it can reduce life expectancy.
The main risks associated with it include:
- Increased risk of falls and shocks
- Difficulty swallowing, which increases the risk of pneumonia
Promising research to treat Parkinson’s disease
One of the medical fallacies about Parkinson’s disease is the belief that no advancements are being made in understanding and treating the disease. In reality, researchers are continuously working to gain a deeper understanding of Parkinson’s and its genetic factors, which could lead to more effective treatments.
Many therapies, such as deep brain stimulation and ultrasound therapy, have already been developed to alleviate symptoms. Ongoing research offers hope that future breakthroughs will provide more effective treatments or even a potential cure for Parkinson’s disease.