Author Name: Carribean Channel, Cuba TV.
This story was originally published on canalcaribe.ict.cu. [1]

The parkinson´s disease: Which route is taking science?
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This April 11th in the media is quite frequent to find images of red tulips. Since 2005, this flower is the world symbol for the Parkinson´s disease. Seems to be that a Dutch horticulturist who suffered from this disease, baptized with the name of ¨Dr. James Parkinson ¨ to a tulip developed and registered in 1981.

With this truly beautiful initiative, this horticulturist paid homage to the British doctor who described for the first time this disease in 1817 and who was born exactly on April 11th . In his first articles, Dr. Parkinson who by the way, suffered from the disease named it Paralysis agitants. But it was not until after 1960 that the biochemical changes were identified that took place in the brain.

The Parkinson´s disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. It provokes a fall in dopamine levels, a neurotransmitter very important for the organism functions.

The most renown symptom is shaking, mainly in hands, but it can also be presented with rigidity, slow movements or decay in balance. With time, patients may have difficulties to walk or speak.

This disease may affect equally men or women in any part of the world, especially in people between 40 and 70 years old. Yet, it could also affect to young people.

Nowadays, is the second neuro degenerative disease more frequent in elder people after the Alzheimer´s disease. According to the World Health Organization, around 7 million people in the world suffer from Parkinson.

It is about a chronic disease but scientists try to discover the mysteries of the brain to improve the life quality of the patients. In this way, we find already since medications to operations which if cannot be applied to all of the patients they do relieve the symptoms in some cases.

Internationally speaking, today it is applied deep brain stimulus, surgical treatment which consists of implanting in the brain a neuro stimulator device.

But the look to science is now to achieve the activation of neurons but with non invasive methods and it is also investigated the possibility to use mother cells.

In Cuba, together with the work of neuro scientists of diverse institutions, it is urgent to think in the creation of specialized centers to which, for example, may assist patients during daytime to do exercises, keep activated and socially integrated. Besides, these centers will serve as a support to caregiver.

While scientists do their part, it remains our side as society to offer love and comprehension mainly to family and Parkinson´s patients. That’s the only way to respect his dignity as human beings.

(C) Cuba TV, Cuban state owned media.
[1] Url: https://www.canalcaribe.icrt.cu/en/the-parkinsons-disease-which-route-is-taking-science/