Drawing on the realities of an aging society as experienced in rural areas, this course explains neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease. The types of neurodegenerative diseases, their symptoms, treatment challenges, and recent research trends will be introduced, and the impact of these diseases on individuals and society will be discussed.
When I lived in a rural area, all of my neighbors were elderly, which made me very aware of our aging society with its growing elderly population. I saw many inconveniences of the elderly, and I thought a lot about their lives that were marred by many diseases. In particular, most of the elderly suffer from diseases related to the nervous system, such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Let’s take a look at some of these neurodegenerative diseases.
Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of diseases that are caused by the slow and constant death of nerve cells in one or several parts of the nervous system. The exact cause of these diseases is still unknown, but some have been identified as toxic or nutritional. In addition, neurodegenerative diseases are progressive and difficult to stop, and medications and surgeries are not always effective in reversing the disease, meaning that there is no cure, which can be devastating for families and patients alike.
There are several types of neurodegenerative diseases. These include dementia and Parkinson’s disease, for example. Other examples include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Huntington’s disease.
Dementia is the loss of a person’s mental (intellectual) abilities and ability to engage in social activities, and when it’s severe enough to disrupt a person’s daily life, we call it dementia. In other words, dementia is not a diagnosis per se, but a syndrome (symptom complex) that describes a group of symptoms that meet certain criteria. There are many different causes of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and diffuse Lewy body dementia. Symptoms of dementia can range from mild memory impairment to very severe behavioral disturbances. In addition to memory impairment, there may be some degree of impairment in areas such as thinking, reasoning, and language, and personality disorders, personality changes, and unusual behaviors may also occur as the disease progresses. Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for the largest proportion of dementia cases, is characterized by high levels of toxicity and neuronal death, leading scientists to speculate that toxicity and neuronal death are responsible for dementia.
Another classic example of a neurodegenerative disease is Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive degenerative disease of the nervous system caused by the gradual loss of dopamine neurons in the brain’s substantia nigra, characterized by rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and postural instability. The exact cause of this disease is still unknown, but genetic and environmental causes are being investigated. The initial symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are usually tremors in the hands or arms, awkward joint movements, and complaints of discomfort. The four main signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include restlessness, rigidity, slowness of movement, and postural instability.
Other diseases include Huntington’s disease, which is caused by a chromosomal abnormality, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is a disease of the motor neurons known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
These neurodegenerative diseases are difficult to treat because the exact cause of the disease is unknown. However, neuroscientists are working on ways to not only reduce the incidence of the disease, but also to slow the onset of symptoms in the early stages of the disease once it has occurred, with vitamin E and a drug called selegiline being the most studied. Vitamin E and selegiline, which are used to treat patients, are antioxidants that are thought to protect brain cells from being destroyed by toxic substances. In addition to this, neuroscientists are working hard to find fundamental treatments. Recently, a stem cell therapy called Neurostem, which has reached clinical trials, has gained prominence. Neurostem-AD is based on hepatic mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood. Animal studies have shown that Neurostem-AD reduces amyloid beta protein, which is toxic to neurons, and inhibits neuronal death.
Research into neurodegenerative diseases is advancing every day, and scientists are constantly working to find new ways to treat them. Recently, innovative approaches such as gene therapy have gained traction. Gene therapy holds the promise of treating diseases at the root by correcting or replacing damaged genes. For example, if a mutation in a particular gene is associated with the development of Parkinson’s disease, it may be possible to correct the mutation to stop or slow the progression of the disease. While these approaches are still in their infancy, they could make a big difference in the future treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
The neurodegenerative diseases we’ve discussed so far are scary because they are nearly impossible to cure and progress slowly. Patients suffering from these diseases can be afflicted for as long as 12 years. It is in our best interest to find a way to cure these diseases as soon as possible, as they not only eat away at the nerve cells in our bodies, but also at the lives and happiness of patients and their families.
Neurodegenerative diseases have an enormous impact not only on the lives of individuals, but also on society as a whole. Social support and policy efforts are needed to prevent and manage these diseases. For example, in an aging society with a growing elderly population, it is important to establish systematic prevention programs and support systems for neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia. In addition, psychological and emotional support for patients and their families should be provided. This is necessary to reduce the burden of the disease and help patients and their families lead better lives.
Therefore, research and attention to neurodegenerative diseases should be recognized as a societal challenge that goes beyond the personal level. When we all understand the seriousness of these diseases and work towards prevention and treatment, we will be able to reduce the threat of neurodegenerative diseases and create a healthier society.
