Science Care Donors + Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s Disease is a brain disorder that causes uncontrollable movements such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. With more than 10 million people impacted worldwide, it’s important to understand what Parkinson’s is and what warning signs to watch for in yourself or your loved ones. 

Symptoms of this neurodegenerative disorder typically develop slowly over years, and its progression is different in every person. People with Parkinson’s are likely to experience tremors, slowness, stiffness, and balance problems. Experts recommend you watch for the following 10 symptoms of Parkinson’s. If you or your loved one shows more than one sign, it’s important to schedule a check-up with your doctor. 

• Tremors – Do you have a slight shaking in your finger, thumb, hands or chin? 
• Small Handwriting – Has your handwriting grown gradually smaller or more crowded? 
• Loss of Smell – Do you have more difficultly smelling foods like bananas, dill pickles or licorice? 
• Trouble Sleeping – Do you have sudden movements when you are deeply asleep? 
• Trouble Walking – Has your walking pattern or arm movements changed? Do you have stiffness in your joints? 
• Constipation – Are you straining to move your bowels on a consistent basis? 
• Voice Changes – Has your voice grown soft, breathy or hoarse? 
• Masked Face – Has anyone mentioned that your expression is sad, mad or depressed, even when you’re not in a bad mood? 
• Dizziness or Fainting – When standing up, do you feel dizzy or experience fainting? 
• Hunching Over – Have you noticed you aren’t able to stand up as straight as you used to? 

As of today, the cause for Parkinson’s is still unknown, although experts believe it’s a combination of genetic and environmental factors. While there’s not cure, there are a variety of treatment options that can help provide relief. The disease itself is not fatal, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC,) the 14^th cause of death in the United States is complications from Parkinson’s.

Science Care’s Role in Parkinson’s

Science Care donors continually play a key role in scientific advancements. Our donor community has contributed to numerous recent projects aimed at enhancing quality of life through advancing the means by which the medical profession understands Parkinson’s. 

• A teaching hospital provided the opportunity for students and residents to become more familiar with the brain through anatomical dissection and microdissection. 
• A university medical program allowed medical professionals the opportunity to better understand the vasculature of the brain, which improves surgical approaches and techniques for brain surgery.
• An organization that performs assay development and biomarker testing performed research and studies to increase accuracy in diagnosing degenerative neurological diseases through brain imaging and other diagnostic means. 
• An international neurological society provided members with the opportunity to develop, maintain, and improve surgical skills utilized in the implantation of medical devices intended to control disease and repair brain functionality.

Through each of these examples, researchers and educators utilized donated tissues and fluids to increase the accuracy and provide earlier detection of diseases, which helps the medical community to not only better diagnose, but provide treatments tailored more specifically to an individual patient based on their disease state and/or its progression.

For more information on Parkinson’s Disease, visit https://www.parkinson.org/.