Did you know that Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disease that affects more than 100,000 Canadians? People with this disease can experience symptoms such as tremors, slowed movement, rigid muscles, or speech changes. As the disease progresses, people with Parkinson’s can also experience dementia. These symptoms can have a major affect on that person’s quality of life.
Unfortunately, there is still no cure for Parkinson’s, but researchers around the world are hard at work trying to find one. While a cure hasn’t been found, there have been many advances in managing the disease that can help both those affected by the disease and their caregivers. Here are three recent advances in disease management for Parkinson’s.
1. New Medications for Parkinson’s Disease
Medications are the main means of managing Parkinson’s disease. Medications can’t yet cure Parkinson’s, but they can help control the symptoms. Researchers are always working to create new medications, and recently, some very promising medications have reached the Canadian market.
One of these medications is called Duopa. A feeding tube delivers Duopa into the small intestine, and since the medication is steadily infused, blood levels of the drug stay constant. This drug is meant for people with advanced Parkinson’s disease and severe motor fluctuations. New medications like this can help people with advanced Parkinson’s disease improve their quality of life.
There are other new medications that are in the clinical trial stage. Clinical trials are research studies that test new drugs before they’re released. When people with Parkinson’s disease participate in clinical trials, they may get access to experimental treatments that aren’t widely available yet. Your loved one’s doctor can answer any questions you have about newly released medications or clinical trials.
2. Advances in Caregiving
In the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, people may be able to handle their daily tasks on their own. As the disease progresses they often need additional help from caregivers. Caregivers may perform tasks like arranging transportation to doctor’s appointments, doing household chores, or helping with personal hygiene routines.
If you’re looking after a loved one with Parkinson’s disease, you may feel stressed and overwhelmed. Many caregivers feel the same way, which is why the concept of caregiver stress has been getting so much attention lately. Caregiver stress can cause harmful health effects, so there’s now an understanding that caregivers need to look after themselves, too.
To relieve caregiver stress, make sure to take some time for yourself. Ask friends and family to help with your loved one’s care, or use professional caregivers from a home care service. Taking a break from caregiving helps you relieve your stress, which in turn makes you a better caregiver. Don’t feel guilty about taking some time off, since it’s good for both you and your loved one.
3. Technology for Disease Management
New types of technology, like phone apps, have made it a lot easier for people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers to manage their care. Not too long ago, caregivers needed to track information about appointments, doctor’s advice, and medication schedules on paper. Information can get lost that way, and treatment can be impacted.
Today, there are a wide range of phone apps available that can help you manage your loved one’s care. Some apps help you organize medical appointments and store test results and medical advice. When all the medical information is in one place, it’s easier for patients and their caregivers to follow their doctor’s advice.
Other apps use sensors to track Parkinson’s symptoms, like tremors and balance. These apps can help patients notice changes in their symptoms. Some apps can help you manage medications by tracking which medications need to be taken and when. With this technology, disease management is a lot easier for patients and caregivers.
