Question 1

is unresponsiveness a common problem in the end stages of parkinson's disease?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Unfortunately, people with Parkinson's often go from ambulatory and verile to bed-bound and senile in the end stages. Many medications can delay this progression, but once it gets to that point, hospice is a great option for care.

Question 2

during resuscitation for an adult, what is the first thing you should do after a person is checked for unresponsiveness?

Accepted Answer

Reversal: Check for a pulse - start CPR if absent or &lt;60 in pediatrics
consider administering a reversal agent like Naloxone if opioid or drug use suspected.

Question 3

mom (74) recently in hospital, diagnosis- tia. 2 known brief episodes (sudden immobility/unresponsiveness). high chol, heavy smoker, white matter only in scans. in-depth driving assessment recommended ? recurrence while driving scares us. mom opposed?

Accepted Answer

: Her neurologist should be the one with the final decision. Good luck to your mom.

Question 4

gall bladder removal on my 24 year old wonderful daughter  post surgery, blood pressure very high muscle spasms, periods of unresponsiveness mri clear?

Accepted Answer

Drug reaction?: May be a reaction to one if the myriad of medications, including the anesthesia that caused this, assuming it happened immediately after the operation. Ask for follow up with the anesthesiologist to get more input. If itnhappened in the operating room, it could have been related to a gas embolism, and that would resolve on its own. I'm sure she'll come around and be fine. Hope this helps!

Question 5

i ve recently been diagnosed with parkinson s but wonder if i might have nph ?

Accepted Answer

Likely not: Nph is a problem with flow of cerebrospinal fluid, and is associated with cognitive loss, apractic gait, and urinary lack of control.  Parkinson's in contrast demonstrates a tremor at rest, increased muscle tone and different short strepped gait.  Talk to your doctor, if the meds do not benefit you, as other diagnoses might be present.

Question 6

can you tell me in parkinson's disease, does dopamine loss occur merely in the striatum or does it occur in the s.niagra too?

Accepted Answer

Pigmented nuclei: The dopamine loss involves predominantly the basal ganglia area, but also involves dorsal vagal nucleus, substantial nigra, and areas of any dopamine interaction within brain and brain stem.  But, to be complete, Parkinson's is a multi-neurotransmitter degenerative deficiency syndrome with other neurotransmitter systems involved.

Question 7

is parkinsons disease hereditary?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Although the causes are multifactorial and sometimes poorly understood, there is a hereditary component.  Keep in mind, that even though a parent may have it, it does not mean that it will be necessarily passed on.  The tendency, however, may be there.

Question 8

why does medication for parkinsons produce an on/off effect?

Accepted Answer

Dose?: Depends on the medication but some parkinson medication required  "drug holiday" to allow the drug to clear and be restarted, some medications work differently causing brekthrough symptoms. It could be that dosing needs adjusted as well.

Question 9

does azilect (rasagiline) help to improve speech in parkinsons patients?

Accepted Answer

In theory, it should: Theoretically, Azilect (rasagiline) (an MAO-B  inhibitor) should help with many of the symptoms of Parkinson's for a certain period of time.  However, as with all treatments for this disease, they are notoriously unpredictable.  I've attached an article which I hope might help.  Good luck!  http://www.reprintsdesk.com/landing/hf.aspx?h=523154&amp;hr=716110317&amp;a=1&amp;u=0&amp;r=826399194

Question 10

why can t healthy dopaminergic neurons be moved into the area of parkinson s affected neurons to treat parkinson s disease ?

Accepted Answer

Not so simple: Most of the dopaminergic neurons end in the substantia nigra of the midbrain, originating in various deep brain structures. These nerves are already affected by the disease. Unaffected nerves of course still remain but remain connected to brainstem. So outside nerve cells (from another source like stem cells are needed) nerves don't like to be moved around anyway, because they often die.

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Doctor answers about:

Parkinsons unresponsiveness

A member asked:

Is unresponsiveness a common problem in the end stages of parkinson's disease?

A member asked:

During resuscitation for an adult, what is the first thing you should do after a person is checked for unresponsiveness?

A member asked:

Mom (74) recently in hospital, diagnosis- tia. 2 known brief episodes (sudden immobility/unresponsiveness). high chol, heavy smoker, white matter only in scans. in-depth driving assessment recommended ? recurrence while driving scares us. mom opposed?

A member asked:

Gall bladder removal on my 24 year old wonderful daughter post surgery, blood pressure very high muscle spasms, periods of unresponsiveness mri clear?

A member asked:

I ve recently been diagnosed with parkinson s but wonder if i might have nph ?

A member asked:

Can you tell me in parkinson's disease, does dopamine loss occur merely in the striatum or does it occur in the s.niagra too?

A member asked:

Is parkinsons disease hereditary?

A member asked:

Why does medication for parkinsons produce an on/off effect?

A member asked:

Does azilect (rasagiline) help to improve speech in parkinsons patients?

A member asked:

Why can t healthy dopaminergic neurons be moved into the area of parkinson s affected neurons to treat parkinson s disease ?

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