Sociology, Gerontology, and Social Welfare Scholars - Parkinsons Disease - Research Paper Example

Parkinson’s disease IMPORTANCE, AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION In the contemporary society, quality healthcare has become the center of debate as a measure towards better social welfare of the people. The emergence of various physical and psychological disorders is at an alarming rate and one of such conditions in this case is Parkinson’s disease. As a person ages, various forms of physical challenges begin to set in and in most cases this tends to make them begin undergoing a mental degradation. Parkinson’s disease comes second among the most common neurodegenerative disorders with the greatest effect in movement. Its discovery can be traced back to 5000 BC but a vivid description of the condition was given by James Parkinson who was a British doctor in 1817. He described the condition as a "shaking palsy.” This condition is always characterized by slow but progressive muscle control loss. This leads to trembling of the victim’s limbs and head when resting besides slowness and an impaired balance and co-ordination (Emre 141). This condition can go to greater lengths and end up jeopardizing one’s ability to talk, walk and carry out even simple tasks. This disorder is more prevalent in the United States where the number of affected people is an estimated 1 million out of the world’s approximate total of 5 million. The rate of occurrence of this disorder is significantly higher among the older people aged above 60 years. The percentage rate of the condition is 1% for the 60 years old and to 4% for people above 80 years old. Research indicates that adult-onset Parkinson’s disease is very rampant although juvenile type also exists for age groups above 21 years. The primary cause of this disorder is lack of a substance called dopamine which plays the role of linking substantia nigra and the corpus striatum in the brain areas (Emre 150). These two parts are responsible for any movement related actions in the body and in the event of their reduction or loss the entire body movement system is impaired resulting in symptoms of Parkinson’s condition. Increasing loss of communication between corpus striatum and substantia nigra in the brain leads to ineffective simultaneous degeneration of some brain cells leading to non-movement related symptoms of the Parkinson’s disease condition. THEORY, STAGE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF AGE GROUP AFFECTED MOST The age range of Parkinson’s disease victims is anywhere from 60-80 and this is projected to exhibit increased prevalence due to the ever rising life expectancy in the US in particular and entire world in general that will step up the number. Past research indicates that 4% of the typical American old persons are in the generativity-versus-stagnation stage within Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development due to the mental disorientation that comes with this condition in life. In regard to Feldman who discusses Erikson’s theory in Discovering the Life Span, this stage-based disorder includes individuals in the age range of 60 and above years old (Weiner 56). This stage is characterized by the presence of stagnation. As people approach their sunset years, their contribution to the society tends to be out of their own physical input and all other basic needs are obtained from other people. It therefore means that they need to be taken care of by the general community which constitutes their families and the well-wishers. It is at this point that occurrence of such conditions like impaired walking, talking and co-ordination problems complicate their existence. Without opportunities for generativity which is actually significantly reduced with this condition, an individual may feel that they are not contributing much to the world and that their activities are of little importance (Weiner 385). RESULTING CHANGES IN LIFESPAN DOMAINS Critically analyzing Erikson’s idea of stagnation during these sunset adult years, it would seem that the occurrence of such conditions would facilitate increased risks of having feelings of stagnation for individuals at this stage in life. Victims of this condition have several challenges in carrying out simple tasks and this severely compromises their survival. Considering that the Parkinson’s disease mainly affects the elderly, who are already physically undergoing depreciation, it tends to create more stress and significantly interfere with their general social wellbeing. The physical health of the sufferers of Parkinson’s disease can be partially attributed to the detrimental factors associated with this phenomenon that lead to increased psychological stress (Schapira 76). In one study, over 85 percent of the sample group reported that the aged feel anxious or depressed most of the time from this condition. Another study reported that over 70 percent of old people said that they felt depressed in their sunset years especially with an attendant inhibited mobility condition. This study also states that this psychological stress can present itself as health problems such as fatigue, headaches, and elevated blood pressure (Fink 433). The feelings of depression, anxiety and health problems may be linked to the lack of social support many of the aged people suffering from this condition face. In one study, half of the Parkinson’s disease victims admitted to feeling isolated from others within their own age group as a direct result of their inability to take care of themselves even in small matters. CAUSES OR COINCIDENT FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH TOPIC Several other studies suggest that people affected by Parkinson’s disease have higher levels of psychological stress, anxiety and depression when compared with their non-affected counterparts. The scientific concept behind this observation was that the psychological and cognitive effects stem from the stress related to the difficulty in movement and activities management which puts the condition’s victims in a predicament such as the fact that it has no proven permanent cure, continuous medical administration and need for moral support at all time (Playfer, Jeremy, and John 17). Whatever the reason for these observed outcomes, it is relatively clear that these people have significant physical, cognitive, and social changes in their life as a result of experiencing the challenges of this condition. In-depth research indicates that there is no specific or direct cause for this condition, but it can be attributed to factors like and gene mutation propositions. There are few research findings that indicate that this disease can be inherited but it shows sufficient connection with brain problems. There is no cure for Parkinson's and herbal remedies are unproven. Studies on using stem cells to treat Parkinson's disease are under way. The prognosis depends on the patient's age and symptoms. CONCLUDING COMMENTS With the idea that this disease attacks people especially at an old age and that there is no cure many old people develop stress. An increasing number of sociology, gerontology, and social welfare scholars have turned their attention to the roles, experiences, and needs of old people raising concerns for their ability. It is important that there is increased awareness of the struggles faced by victims of Parkinson’s in these situations because a better understanding will allow for the opportunity to provide intervention and assistance. Work Cited Emre, M. Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Parkinson's Disease. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. Print. Retrieved on 27th October 2013 from : http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=XcHw6IsrnBwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Cognitive+Impairment+and+Dementia+in+Parkinson%27s+Disease&hl=en&sa=X&ei=lYpFUuSVLOnQ0QWdsYHwCw&ved=0CDgQuwUwAA#v=onepage&q=Cognitive%20Impairment%20and%20Dementia%20in%20Parkinson%27s%20Disease&f=false Fink, George. Stress Consequences: Mental, Neuropsychological and Socioeconomic. San Diego, C.A: Academic, 2010. Internet resource. Retrieved on 27th October 2013 from : http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=E20HsuKHxaEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=psychological+stress+in+parkinson%27s+disease&hl=en&sa=X&ei=V3ZIUqCxHYPXswas0oGICQ&ved=0CC8QuwUwAA#v=onepage&q=psychological%20stress%20in%20parkinson%27s%20disease&f=false Playfer, Jeremy R, and John V. Hindle. Parkinson's Disease in the Older Patient. Oxford: Radcliffe, 2008. Print. Retrieved on 27th October 2013 from : http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=E-dwR7G5oYYC&pg=PA107&dq=Cognitive+Impairment+and+Dementia+in+Parkinson%27s+Disease&hl=en&sa=X&ei=lYpFUuSVLOnQ0QWdsYHwCw&ved=0CFkQuwUwBg#v=onepage&q=Cognitive%20Impairment%20and%20Dementia%20in%20Parkinson%27s%20Disease&f=false Schapira, Anthony H. V. Parkinson's Disease. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. Print. Retrieved on 27th October 2013 from: http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=4NvX-zpu19MC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Parkinson%27s+Disease&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RJNFUpjOFouK4gTP3YDQCQ&ved=0CGQQuwUwCA#v=onepage&q=Parkinson%27s%20Disease&f=false Weiner, William J. Parkinson's Disease: A Complete Guide for Patients and Families. S.l.: Johns Hopkins University, 2013. Print. http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=7bSWnAEACAAJ&dq=A+Complete+Guide+for+Patients+and+Families&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ZZlFUuGMF6KK4wS_44HgCA&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA Read More