What is parkinsonism?
Parkinsonism is any condition that involves movement problems similar to Parkinson’s, although they are not the same, as they have different causes.
What are the symptoms of parkinsonism?
The most common symptoms of this condition are
- Tremor
- Decreased facial expression
- Paralysis (loss or weakness of movement)
- Difficulty controlling or initiating movement
- Stiffness of the trunk, legs, or arms
- Soft voice
Confusion or memory loss may also occur. Many diseases that cause parkinsonism may also cause dementia.
What are the causes of parkinsonism?
The main causes of parkinsonism are:
- Brain injury
- Encephalitis
- Diffuse Lewy body disease (a type of dementia)
- HIV/AIDS
- Multiple system atrophy
- Meningitis
- Cerebrovascular accident
- Progressive supranuclear palsy
- Wilson’s disease
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Brain damage caused by anesthetic drugs
- Mercury and other chemical poisoning
- Certain medications used to treat mental disorders or nausea
- MPTP (a contaminant in some psychoactive drugs)
- Narcotic overdose
Can Parkinsonism be prevented?
It can be prevented by treating the Parkinson’s-causing conditions listed above or by controlling the intake of other potentially parkinsonism-causing medications.
How is parkinsonism treated?
If the cause is a drug, the specialist may recommend suspending it or changing it for another one. Likewise, treating causative conditions, such as infections or stroke, may reduce the symptoms or slow down the complications of the disease. Some drugs may also be recommended to alleviate symptoms, although they can cause serious side effects, so it is important to consult with a specialist first.