More than 10 million people worldwide have Parkinson’s disease. This disease is a chronic, progressive neurological disorder. It leads to symptoms like tremors, muscle rigidity, slow movements, impaired balance, and dementia. These symptoms can make life difficult for people with Parkinson’s and their loved ones. While there isn’t a cure for Parkinson’s disease yet, there are many disease management strategies.
Researchers are always working to create better disease management strategies and help patients. If one of your loved ones has Parkinson’s disease, here are some of the recent, exciting advances in Parkinson’s disease management.
Development of New Drug Treatments
Scientists around the world are hard at work to develop new drug treatments for Parkinson’s disease. There are many medications currently in development, including disease-modifying medications that aim to prevent or slow down Parkinson’s disease. There are also medications being developed to help ease the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s, such as tremors and rigidity. Medications that aim to address non-motor symptoms, like cognitive decline, are also in various stages of development.
You should also be aware that there are many medications that have been recently approved for Parkinson’s patients. One of the newest medications to hit the Canadian market is called Xadago. This medication is used in conjunction with treatments in order to boost the effectiveness of other Parkinson’s medications. It helps control motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Of course, not all new medications are a good fit for every patient. Parkinson’s affects each person differently. Parkinson’s patients should talk to their doctors to find out if any newly developed medications could help manage their disease more effectively.
High-Tech Methods to Manage Parkinson’s
New technology is being developed all the time, and these technological advances give patients new ways to manage Parkinson’s. There are a number of apps and gadgets that can help Parkinson’s patients.
Parkinson’s apps can help patients track information about their symptoms, medications, doctor’s visits, and more, all in one convenient place. The great thing about apps is that they also can also remind patients to take their medications, which is very helpful for patients who need to take various medications and supplements throughout the day. There are even apps that connect to wearables and collect information about symptoms Parkinson’s patients experience.
Companies are also working to create new gadgets that can help Parkinson’s patients. A recent example is the Emma watch. This watch uses a vibration pattern to make the brain focus on the hand, and reduce muscle tremors. This watch is still in the early stages of development, but it’s an exciting sign of things to come for those living with Parkinson’s.
New Approaches to Caregiving
As Parkinson’s symptoms worsen, people with this disease may need help from their family and friends. While getting care from your social circle isn’t new, there are some recent advances that relate to caregiving.
Recently, there’s been a push to understand the burden on caregivers of Parkinson’s patients. Doctors’ and other healthcare professionals’ primary focus is on the people with Parkinson’s, and the needs of their caregivers may not be recognized. Caregivers dedicate a lot of time and resources to their loved ones living with Parkinson’s. There’s now an increased focus on understanding the stress placed on caregivers, as well as the best ways to help them.
Caregivers may not be aware of resources that can give them some much-needed rest and peace of mind. One of these resources is Parkinson’s home care. Through professional home care services, caregivers can get professional and reliable help caring for their loved ones. This professional care can include services like personal care, housekeeping, or customized care plans. This helps caregivers control stress while ensuring higher comfort and care levels for those living with Parkinson’s.
