[Health Tip] Frequent Hand Tremors, Just Fatigue? Turns Out to Be 'Parkinson's Disease'

"Possible to Live Daily Life with Early Diagnosis and Treatment"

Sudden hand tremors and a continuously stooped posture may be early signs of Parkinson's disease, experts have advised. They recommend that if Parkinson's disease is suspected, one should not hesitate to consult a neurologist for evaluation.

[Photo by Ewha Womans University Medical Center]

Professor Lee Chan-young of the Department of Neurology at Ewha Mokdong Hospital stated, "If resting tremors, slowed movements, and postural instability occur, Parkinson's disease should be suspected." He added, "Without appropriate treatment, Parkinson's disease progressively worsens motor impairments, making walking difficult, and also leads to cognitive dysfunction, psychiatric symptoms, and autonomic nervous system issues, which interfere with daily life."

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative brain disorder characterized by motor control impairments and non-motor symptoms caused by a deficiency of dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain. Dopamine acts on the basal ganglia to enable smooth and precise voluntary movements, and a lack of dopamine results in motor function problems.

Parkinson's disease, along with Alzheimer's disease, is considered a representative degenerative brain disorder. It most commonly occurs around the age of 60, with prevalence steadily increasing with age?about 1-2% after age 65, rising to 3% among the elderly population aged 85 and older.

The exact cause of Parkinson's disease remains unclear, but rather than a single factor, it is known to involve multiple factors such as aging, genetics, toxins, and environmental influences. These factors contribute to dysfunction in processing unnecessary proteins and mitochondrial impairment.

Professor Lee advises that even after a Parkinson's disease diagnosis, appropriate treatment can enable patients to maintain daily activities. He emphasized, "Most Parkinson's patients experience symptoms gradually. Although the rate of symptom progression varies among individuals, it generally progresses very slowly, allowing most patients to engage in normal social activities for a long time with proper treatment and minimal discomfort."

Treatment for Parkinson's disease must be adjusted frequently according to the patient's condition, so regular consultations with a neurologist are essential to find the appropriate treatment method. Professor Lee explained, "Levodopa and dopamine agonists are the most effective medications for symptom improvement in Parkinson's disease," and added, "Surgical treatment involves deep brain stimulation, which reversibly alters motor circuit function through electrical stimulation."

Professor Lee Chan-young, Department of Neurology, Ewha Mokdong Hospital. [Photo by Ewha Medical Center]

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