Patient/caregiver was educated on signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease as follows:
- Damage to these neurons results not only in deficiency of various chemicals in the brain, but also an imbalance in between these chemicals. This results in problems with the overall movement, motor skills, mood, and memory of affected individuals.
- The chemical acetylcholine in the brain is also believed to contribute significantly to the individual’s thought process and memory. Deficiency in the brain levels of acetylcholine in Parkinson’s patients could contribute to slowing of thought process, growing confusion, and compromised memory.
- The chemicals dopamine and serotonin play a significant role in promoting a healthy sleep pattern and a regular sleep-wake cycle. Proper levels of and balance between these chemicals also plays an important role in stabilizing the mood. Deficiency of these chemicals and imbalance in their levels in Parkinson’s patients lead to disturbance in the sleep patterns, unstable mood, and consequently lead to restlessness, anxiety, and depression. Low dopamine also can contribute to low motivation levels, contributing towards depression.
