Parkinson's disease affects the way you move. It happens when there is a problem with certain nerve cells in the brain.
Normally, these nerve cells make an important chemical called dopamine. Dopamine sends signals to the part of your brain that controls movement. It lets your muscles move smoothly and do what you want them to do. When you have Parkinson’s, these nerve cells break down. Then you no longer have enough dopamine, and you have trouble moving the way you want to.
At Providence Center for Parkinson’s Disease, our primary focus in treating Parkinson’s disease is to help patients maintain performance and quality of life while limiting the side effects of Parkinson's medications. We believe in a multi-faceted treatment approach that may involve the following, depending on the individual's needs:
- Medications
- Exercise, both mental and physical
- Balance training
- Assistive devices
- Surgery and deep brain stimulation
- Family and patient support
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