Living with Parkinson’s disease affects every aspect of your life and drastically limits your abilities. While there is no cure for this movement disorder, there are treatment options to manage the effects. The staff at Connecticut Advocates for Parkinson’s in Windsor, CT, are committed to improving the lives of people with Parkinson’s and share several of these options to increase your quality of life.

3 Treatments for Parkinson’s Disease

1. Medication

The movement problems associated with Parkinson’s disease are due to low dopamine levels. Most medications focus on increasing dopamine function or substituting for it to combat these low levels. Some medications mimic the neurotransmitter’s effects, assisting with walking or tremors. Speak with your physician to see if this is a viable option.

2. Surgery

Brain surgery is reserved for only the most severe cases of Parkinson’s. The primary treatment is deep-brain stimulation. During this procedure, electrodes are implanted into the brain and then connected to a generator implanted in the chest. Pulses sent through these electrodes to the brain help manage symptoms of Parkinson’s. However, surgery isn’t a long-term solution and doesn’t stop the progression of the disease.

3. Clinical Trials

If medications are ineffective and surgery isn’t the best choice for you, clinical trials are also an option. These studies involve cutting-edge treatments with the goal of moving closer to finding a cure. Recent trials include modifying the disease to prevent or slow down progression, improving medications to regulate motor systems, and decreasing the side effects.

If you’re interested in learning more about treatment options, turn to the volunteers at Connecticut Advocates for Parkinson’s. They’re dedicated to finding a cure and focused on helping people with Parkinson’s disease attain a healthy quality of life. Call (860) 266-6040 to speak with their volunteers and visit their website and Facebook to learn more about their services.