At age 40 w, Alan began dealing with a frozen shoulder and bouts of [...]
Parkinson’s: What is Parkinson’s?
Parkinson’s disease is a motor system disorder that falls under the broader category of Movement Disorder. The motor symptoms present along with a cluster of other symptoms that are related to the specific area of the brain that is affected by an individual with Parkinson’s. There are currently no blood or laboratory tests that have been proven to help in diagnosing sporadic Parkinson’s disease. As a result, the diagnosis is based on medical history and a neurological examination. The disease can be difficult to diagnose accurately. Doctors may sometimes request brain scans or laboratory tests in order to rule out other diseases. Parkinson’s usually affects people over the age of 50, but there is early onset at younger ages.
Parkinson’s and Brain Function:
This progressive neurological disorder results from degeneration of neurons in a region of the brain that controls movement. This degeneration creates a shortage of the brain signaling chemical (neurotransmitter) known as dopamine, causing the movement impairments that characterize the disease. The symptoms listed above are the result of the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. As with most movement disorders, some form of SMR (Senory Motor Rhythm) training can be done to reduce symptoms, but a qEEG is a necessary assessment tool to make these protocol conclusions. With the qEEG or Brain Map as an assessment tool, we can see the electrical activity of the brain. We can then determine where and how the dysregulation occurs allowing us to develop treatment protocols to put the brain back into balance without medication.
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Parkinson’s and Common Symptoms
Primary symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease:
- Trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw or face
- Rigidity or stiffness of the limbs or trunk
- Slowness of movement
- Postural instability or impaired balance and coordination
Early symptoms are subtle and appear gradually. But as the disease progresses, the shaking or tremors will begin to interfere with daily activities. Other symptoms include:
- Other emotional changes, including Anger/Rage or Anxiety
- Difficulty swallowing, chewing or speaking
- Urinary problems
- Sleep disruptions
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Parkinson’s Disease: Case Study
At age 40 w, Alan began dealing with a frozen shoulder and bouts of depression. After a few years, with worsening and increasing symptoms, his mother suggested he see a doctor about possible Parkinson’s Disease. By this time, his symptoms included problems with gait while walking and an even deeper depression, and this led him to make a decision to take early retirement from his long time career. Over the next year after his diagnosis, he tried everything he could to get relief, from changes in diet, to yoga and other exercises, and medications. Some modes of treatment worked better than others, and some were effective for longer periods of time than others.
Alan found a support group online and during one of the chat sessions, he learned about Neurofeedback. He went to his doctor, and together they researched and found this to be an effective treatment for the motor problems he experiencing. Since Parkinson’s is chronic and progressive, he set upon an intensive treatment plan for daily neurofeedback sessions. After about 6 months of treatment, he began to see some improvement in his tremors and his depression. He continues in treatment along with counseling, and he has found that his gait continues to improve. He realized that having Parkinson’s is a long-term journey for him. Neurofeedback cannot stop the degenerative process associated with this disease, but it can delay the onset of more severe symptoms and even reduce some of the symptoms initially presented.
Of course, not every patient who undergoes neurofeedback training experiences this drastic of a result. However, we do find improved outcomes in approximately 85 to 90 percent of our clients. Consistency in treatment and a positive attitude are important for success.
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