Genetic markers indicating the risk of contracting this disease are already being studied.
Parkinson's disease, better known as Parkinson's Disease, is a neurodegenerative disease of unknown cause that can affect people of any age but commonly affects people in their fifth or sixth decade of life. Characterized by various types of compromises in the body, where the most striking is the tremor in the hands, it is a systemic disease. Parkinson's Disease (PD) or Parkinson's is a neurological disorder that occurs in the central nervous system and is characterized by the premature loss of brain cells responsible for producing a chemical called dopamine.
Dopamine is essential for the development of some functions of the central nervous system, as it influences locomotor activity (body movement), affectivity, hormonal regulation, and water and food consumption. The shortage of this substance in the brain causes problems with body movement, which are characteristic of this condition.
One of the efforts being made is to try to study the genetics of these diseases to find the genetic mutations that can help us identify who is prone to this disease. Finding genetic mutations will allow us to know which medication can prevent this condition.
World Parkinson's Day aims to raise awareness and inform the population about this disease, in order to help people who suffer from it, as well as implement actions for prevention or delay of symptom onset. This commemoration was established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1997 and is celebrated every April 11th due to the birth of the British neurologist James Parkinson, who, in 1817, described the characteristics of this disease, which he named Paralysis Agitans.
On October 20, 2023, a very interesting study from several countries around the world was published in a world-renowned medical journal, where nearly 50,000 people with Parkinson's were studied and compared with nearly 2.5 million people who did not have Parkinson's to compare, and the results show that there are 12 new genetic mutations that have never been found before and that offer a target for further research, suggesting they may be useful for the future.
In our country, there are no official figures on how many people have this condition, however, the Ministry of Health predicts a prevalence of 40 to 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, each year. In addition, the WHO estimates that Parkinson's Disease could become the most common serious condition by 2040, due to increased survival and degenerative diseases, for this reason, Parkinson's Disease is considered a public health problem.
One of the most important discoveries for this disease is the therapeutic use of Cannabis to treat the symptoms of the disease. Currently, the appropriate dose is being studied to achieve eradication of the disease. The truth is that only 4 minutes need to pass after ingesting the substance for people with Parkinson's to feel much more relaxed.
Meanwhile, another major technological advancement is the creation of special gloves for people with Parkinson's, containing rotating gyroscopes that help regain control over the hands. These gloves bring the hands back to their original position and instantly counteract and eliminate the tremor that affects them, making daily life tasks easier.