Parkinson's Disease Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment | Dr. David Greene

Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder. It affects the nervous system, and symptoms become worse over time, said Dr. David Greene R3 Stem Cell CEO. The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease develop gradually. They often start with a slight tremor in one hand and a feeling of stiffness in the body. Over time, other symptoms develop, and some people will have dementia. Most of the symptoms result from a fall in dopamine levels in the brain.

Symptoms: Parkinson's disease signs and symptoms can be different for everyone. Early signs may be mild and go unnoticed, added Dr. David Greene Arizona. Symptoms often begin on one side of your body and usually remain worse on that side, even after symptoms begin to affect both sides.

• Movement: There may be a tremor in the hands.
• Coordination: A reduced sense of coordination and balance can cause people to drop items they are holding. They may be more likely to fall.
• Gait: The person’s posture may change, so that they lean forward slightly, as if they were hurrying. They may also develop a shuffling gait.
• Facial expression: This can become fixed, due to changes in the nerves that control facial muscles.
• Voice: There may be a tremor in the voice, or the person may speak more softly than before.
• Handwriting: This may become more cramped and smaller.
• Sense of smell: A loss of sense of smell can be an early sign.
• Sleep problems: These are a feature of Parkinson’s, and they may be an early sign. Restless legs may contribute to this.
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Other common symptoms include:

• mood changes, including depression
• difficulty chewing and swallowing
• problems with urination
• constipation
• skin problems
• sleep problems

Causes and risk factors: Scientists are not sure what causes Parkinson’s disease. It happens when certain nerve cells (neurons) in the brain gradually break down or die. Many of the symptoms are due to a loss of neurons that produce a chemical messenger in your brain called dopamine, added Dr. David Greene. When dopamine levels decrease, it causes abnormal brain activity, leading to impaired movement and other symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

The cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, but several factors appear to play a role, including:

• Genes. Researchers have identified specific genetic mutations that can cause Parkinson's disease. But these are uncommon except in rare cases with many family members affected by Parkinson's disease.
• However, certain gene variations appear to increase the risk of Parkinson's disease but with a relatively small risk of Parkinson's disease for each of these genetic markers.
• Environmental triggers. Exposure to certain toxins or environmental factors may increase the risk of later Parkinson's disease, but the risk is relatively small.

Researchers have also noted that many changes occur in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease, although it's not clear why these changes occur. These changes include:

• The presence of Lewy bodies. Clumps of specific substances within brain cells are microscopic markers of Parkinson's disease. These are called Lewy bodies, and researchers believe these Lewy bodies hold an important clue to the cause of Parkinson's disease.
• Alpha-synuclein found within Lewy bodies. Although many substances are found within Lewy bodies, scientists believe an important one is the natural and widespread protein called alpha-synuclein (a-synuclein). It's found in all Lewy bodies in a clumped form that cells can't break down. This is currently an important focus among Parkinson's disease researchers.
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Risk factors: Risk factors for Parkinson's disease include:

• Age. Young adults rarely experience Parkinson's disease. It ordinarily begins in middle or late life, and the risk increases with age. People usually develop the disease around age 60 or older.
• Heredity. Having a close relative with Parkinson's disease increases the chances that you'll develop the disease. However, your risks are still small unless you have many relatives in your family with Parkinson's disease.
• Sex. Men are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than are women.
• Exposure to toxins. Ongoing exposure to herbicides and pesticides may slightly increase your risk of Parkinson's disease.
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Treatment: R3 Stem Cell International offers treatment for Parkinson's disease with stem cells and exosomes at numerous locations in Mexico, Pakistan, and others, said Dr. David Greene MD. Call us today at +1 (888) 988-0515 

The optimal treatment is one that would enter the brain and actually be neuroprotective and neuroregenerative. Initial research into the effects of stem cells on the brain shows excellent effects for:

• Neurogenesis 
• Revascularization 
• Anti-apoptosis 
• Immunomodulatory 
• Anti-inflammatory

Given the ability to migrate and engraft at sites of inflammation and injury, most of the effects are exerted by their cell-to-cell communication along with neurotrophic factors and cytokines. 

R3 Stem Cell International has treated over 50 patients with PD to date, using intrathecal umbilical cord stem cells numbering between 50 million up to a billion cells. Patients have seen substantial improvements, with no significant adverse events to date.