Is a legend in his own right, his role as Marty McFly in "Back to the Future" is probably the main character I'll remember him playing. I'm sure many of you readers will do too. Anyway, today's blog is about him because of this;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8554203.stm
He is to be honoured by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden for his work in raising funding and awareness of Parkinson's disease, an illness Mr. Fox was diagnosed with in 1991; he is to be given an honorary degree of Medicine. The Michael J.Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research was established in 2000, and has since raised over £116 million towards finding a cure.
Parkinson's Disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects a person's central nervous system, it was discovered by James Parkinson in 1817 who initially called it the Shaking Palsy; Approximately 10,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease each year. The primary symptoms are thought to be caused by insufficient creation and action of the neurotransmitter Dopamine which in turn causes a decreased stimulation of the motor cortex by the basal ganglia.
According to the Parkinson's Disease Society the symptoms for Parkinson's disease are as follows;
Motor symptoms have with three primary features:
-Tremor - which usually begins in one hand. This is the first symptom for 70% of people with Parkinson's
-Slowness of movement (bradykinesia) - people with Parkinson's may find that they have difficulty initiating movements or that performing movements takes longer.
-Stiffness or rigidity of muscles - problems with activities such as standing up from a chair or rolling over in bed may be experienced.
Various non-motor symptoms may also be experienced, for example:
-sleep disturbances
-constipation
-urinary urgency
-depression
Drug treatments of Parkinson's Disease consist of;
-"Dopamine replacements"; (inc Co-Benedopa/Madopar and Co-Careldopa/Sinemet. These medicines are combinations of L-DOPA (Levodopa), which breaks down in the body to form dopamine, and a second drug that ensures L-DOPA reaches your brain. These can provide long-term improvement; but also have side-effects, long-term problems of their own, and "on-off" symptoms ("on-off syndrome").
Side-effects include;
- Sickness
- Vomitting
- Sleepiness
Long term problems include;
- Dyskinesia (Unwanted facial and limb movements)
- Medication that mimics dopamine (dopamine agonists) - this can be taken combined with L-DOPA or prior to the inital use of L-DOPA (inc Pramipexole/Mirapexin, Ropinirole/Adartrel and Rotigotine/Neupro.
Side-effects include;
- Sickness
- Constipation
- Headache
- Sleepiness
- MAOIs (monoamine oxidase B inhibitors)/MAOI-Bs (inc Selegiline/Eldepryl and Rasagiline/Azilect). These prevent Dopamine breakdown and can be used to delay the need for L-DOPA.
Side effects include;
- Low Blood Pressure
-COMT (catechol O-methyl transferase) inhibitors (inc Entacapone/Comtess and Tolcapone/Tasmar). This is a new medication that can be used alongside L-DOPA to prevent Dopamine breakdown, this has been introduced for the stage at which Dopamine replacement medications start to lose their effectiveness.
Side effects include;
- Possible liver damage (regular blood testing is needed)
- Anticholinergic medication; this is designed to block the action of the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine. In effect this corrects the Dopamine and Acetylcholine balance, however this medication is less affective than those that actually replace lost Dopamine and only really aid with tremors.
Side effects include;
- Dry Mouth
- Constipation
- Blurred Vision
Michael J.Fox, along with other advocates and fund raisers, is making it possible to find treatments for the symptomatic effects of Parkinson's disease along with treatment for the actual disorder. The honorary degree is well deserved! At the very least, this report reminded me to read his Biography (it's on my Amazon list), something tells me it will be a truely inspiring and intriguing read!
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