Parkinson’s Disease Glossary: G - M
G
Gait The way that you walk is called your gait. Most people with Parkinson’s disease find that the disease affects their gait because of the loss of balance and muscle rigidity Globus Pallidus A part of your brain that is located in the basal gantlia. A cluster of nerves in the globus pallidus is responsible for the tremors associated with some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s. A pallidotomy is a surgery that destroys that cluster of nerves and often relieves the symptoms.
H
Hallucinations One of the symptoms of dementia that sometimes is a result of Parkinson’s disease in its later stages. A hallucination is seeing, hearing or feeling something that isn’t really there. High-dopa dyskinesias A side effect of levodopa, a medication used to treat Parkinson’s disease. When L-dopa is at its highest level in the blood, patients may experience abnormal movements and muscle twitches. Hypokinesia Slow movements that are traditionally associated with Parkinson’s disease Hypomimia The mask-like expression typical of people with Parkinson’s disease. Because Parkinson’s affects the muscles of the face and involuntary movements, it often appears that people with Parkinson’s disease have no facial expressions
I
Idiopathic A medical adjective that means ‘without a known cause’. The most typical form of Parkinson’s disease is idiopathic. Intention Tremor One of the type of tremors associated with Parkinson’s disease. An intention tremor occurs when a person attempts a voluntary movement.
L
Levodopa (L-DOPA) Levodopa is the generic name for the most commonly used drug to treat Parkinson’s disease. L-dopa is a precursor of dopamine which means that the body can change it to dopamine in the brain. L-dopa works by replacing the dopamine that the brain is no longer able to produce in Parkinson’s disease. In the United States, the brand name of L-dopa is Sinemet. Lewy Bodies Lewy bodies are abnormal pink spheres that are found in the brains of those with Parkinson’s disease. They are the result of dying or dead cells that produce dopamine. They are the most certain way to diagnose Parkinson’s disease. Low-Dopa Dyskinesias When L-dopa is wearing off, a patient may experience abnormal movements that are outside their control. Those are called ‘low-dopa dyskinesias’.
M
Mentation A term used to refer to mental and cognitive functioning. This includes your thought processes and judgment. Micrographia Small, very cramped and often illegible handwriting. Micrographia is common in those with Parkinson’s disease because of the problems that the disease causes with fine motor movements. Monoamine Oxidase-B (MAO-B) MAO-B is an enzyme produced by the body that helps break down dopamine for use in the nerve receptors. Monoamine Oxidase-B (MAO-B) Inhibitors One class of medications being used to treat Parkinson’s disease. MAO-B inhibitors prevent the enzyme MAO-B from breaking down dopamine in the area of the dopamine receptors so that more of the dopamine makes it to the brain. Motor Fluctuations The term used to describe complications of Parkinson’s medications that affect the way that patients move. Dyskinesias and wearing-off dose are examples of motor fluctuations. Myoclonus Involuntary jerky movements of the arms and legs which usually occur during sleep. They may result in disturbed sleep in patients with Parkinson’s disease.