Expert: The symptoms of paralysis paralysis are not limited to shaking hands

Dr.. Osama Abu Rab - Al Jazeera Net

"Parkinson's disease is the second most common cause of nerve damage in the world," said Dr Omar Omar, executive director of the Qatar Institute for Biomedical Research. "Many people think that the onset of the disease may be a noticeable tremor in the hands at rest, The disease extends to include other symptoms such as slow motion and muscle stiffness.

In a special interview with Al-Jazeera Net, Parkinson's disease described Parkinson's disease as a progressive disease of progressive brain cell damage, which causes low levels of dopamine, leading to symptoms of the disease.

The incidence of the disease increases with age, often after the fourth decade of life. Because Parkinson's disease is relapsing, other symptoms that appear over time extend the patient's intellectual state, such as memory decline.

About 10 million people around the world suffer from Parkinson's disease, with the disease affecting between 1 and 2 per 1,000 people at any time, and 41 out of every 100,000 people in the fourth decade of life. The disease affects 1% of people over the age of sixty years, and more than 1900 people out of every hundred thousand in the eighth decade of age.

Men are more likely to develop the disease by 1.5. There are currently no accurate statistics in the Gulf, but the figures may be similar to those of the world.

How does it happen?
The underlying pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease is the loss of neurons in a region of the brain called black matter, with the so-called "Lewy bodies" (parts of the cell found in dead or dying neurons), which consists of several components, "alpha-synuclein").

When neurons in black matter are damaged in large numbers, low dopamine production hampers normal function and causes Parkinson's motor symptoms, including stiffness, poor balance, and loss of spontaneous movement.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and an important factor to facilitate movement and control of human behavior.

The symptoms of Parkinson's disease begin to appear gradually, sometimes appear in the form of a tremor in one of his hands in his sleep and can hardly be observed, and the situation worsens over time, which may cause muscle stiffness or slow movement.

Currently, there are no useful blood or laboratory tests to diagnose Parkinson's disease, and the diagnosis is mainly based on the medical history, examination and clinical history of the patient.

What causes it?
Dr. Al-Ajaf adds that Al-Jazeera has not found the causes of Parkinson's disease until now, but scientists believe that there are major causes of the disease, including:

1. Environmental factors : Scientists believe that exposure to pesticides and other harmful agents in our surrounding environment may lead to disease.

2. Genetics : The researchers identified specific genetic mutations that could lead to Parkinson's disease, but they are not common. According to global reports, genetic factors affect more than 10 out of every 100 people infected with the disease. Although a small percentage, it is classified as one of the known causes of the disease.

3 - The presence of Lewy bodies : Researchers believe that these particles are important evidence of the incidence of Parkinson's disease.

4. Related diseases Research has shown that people with type 2 diabetes are three to four times more likely to develop Parkinson's disease.

Where did the scientists find a cure?
Responding to this question, Dr Al-'Anaf said there is currently no cure for Parkinson's disease, but there are some treatments to help relieve symptoms and maintain quality of life. These treatments include support through physical therapy, medications that relieve symptoms, and sometimes surgical intervention. Many patients do not need to be treated during the early stages of Parkinson's disease because the symptoms are usually mild.

"The Qatar Institute for Biomedical Research is working on many research on Parkinson's disease. The institute's efforts are focused on finding innovative ways to early diagnosis of the disease through biological indicators in the spinal cord and blood markers, and looking for natural molecules as potential new treatments for Parkinson's disease."

In addition, the Institute is working on the development of Parkinson's disease-modifying antibodies to understand disease-causing mechanisms, and is developing new diagnostic methods and vaccines for the disease.

The goal of the Institute is to accelerate global efforts to find faster, more effective diagnosis and better treatment methods, and ultimately contribute to a lasting cure for the disease.

Do you hope to get treatment?
"In general, we do not work at the Qatar Institute for Biomedical Research to find a cure for Parkinson's disease directly, but we seek through our research to work on finding factors that contribute to the early diagnosis of the disease in order to contribute to the development of appropriate treatments by specialized pharmaceutical companies And we are collaborating in our research with several specialized companies such as Edorcea, Lunbeck and Aphrys. "