Mumbai, Apr 12: Meditation and vegetarian diet combined with physiotherapy could give a new lease of life to those afflicted with Parkinson's Disease (PD), according to experts.
People with PD had to learn to live with it and medication alone will not provide relief from the depressing disease, according to experts participating at an interactive symposium, 'Living with Parkinson's Disease', organised by the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Society on the occasion of World Parkinson's Disease day on Friday.

However, a combination of yoga, meditation, vegetarian diet and physiotherapy have proved to work wonders for many patients and got them rid of mental agony, the experts said.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

It was decided that persons suffering from PD will form a self-help group in the city in order to boost their morale and to learn to live with the disease.Over 250 patients and care-givers shared their experiences at the symposium at Bombay Hospital.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jimmy Lalkaka, neurologist at the hospital, said 'although the cause of the disease was still unknown, judging by the pace of research worldwide and newer experimental therapies, a cure for the distressing illness may well become a reality in the coming years'.

Dr Ashish Sheth, psychiatrist, elaborated the problems of depression and anxiety that are commonly seen among patients having the disease and which significantly affect the quality of life of the affected persons and their families.

Recent researches have shown theories involving oxidative damage, environmental toxins, genetic factors, and accelerated ageing as potential causes of the disease. About the diagnosis of PD, the doctors said currently it was based on common symptoms. However, non-invasive diagnostic imaging, such as positron emission tomography (PET) can support the physician's diagnosis.

The conventional criteria for diagnosis of PD include presence of two of the three primary symptoms - tremor, muscle rigidity and slowness and changes in the rhythm of voluntary movement. Absence of other neurological signs on examination like the activity of reflexes, inability to coordinate voluntary muscular movements or sensory loss also adds to the diagnostic procedures.

PD is a chronic disabling illness of the brain with a worldwide occurrence. 'The prevalence of PD increases with advancing age affecting nearly one in 100 individuals over the age of 65 years. Men and women are equally affected,' Balwant Parekh, vice-president of the PDMDS said.

The disease usually manifests on one side of the body and over the years slowly progresses to involve the whole body. Bureau Report