帕金森病患者指南

A Patient’s Guide to Parkinson’s Disease

帕金森病患者指南

What Is Parkinson’s Disease?

什么是帕金森病?

The National Institute on Aging reports that “Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that leads to shaking, stiffness and difficulty with walking, balance and coordination.” The Parkinson’s Foundation reports that these changes are associated with a reduction in the levels of dopamine in the brain, a neurotransmitter that helps pass chemical signals between neurons. “Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects predominately dopamine-producing (‘dopaminergic’) neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra” a structure in the middle of the brain that controls movement .

美国国家老化研究所报告说:“帕金森氏症是一种脑部疾病，会导致颤抖、僵硬、行走困难、平衡和协调能力下降。帕金森基金会报告说，这些变化与大脑中多巴胺水平的降低有关。多巴胺是一种帮助神经元传递化学信号的神经递质。帕金森氏症是一种神经退行性疾病，主要影响大脑中黑质中产生多巴胺(多巴胺能)的神经元，这是位于大脑中部的一种结构，它控制着运动。

A degenerative disease, Parkinson’s has no cure, and people with the disorder may spend many years progressively getting worse. Symptoms can vary widely from person to person, which is also part of why making a definitive diagnosis can be difficult. Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease may include:

帕金森氏症是一种退行性疾病，无法治愈，患者可能需要多年时间才能逐渐恶化。症状因人而异，这也是为什么很难做出明确诊断的部分原因。帕金森病的症状可能包括:

· Tremor. Typically occurring in the hands or limbs, involuntary shaking is one of the hallmark symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

震颤。通常发生在手或四肢，无意识的颤抖是帕金森病的标志性症状之一。

· Slowed movement and rigid muscles. “Parkinson’s slows everything down,” Byers says, and this refers to both body movements and the functioning of internal organs. Slower-than-usual walking is a common sign.

运动减慢和肌肉僵硬。拜尔斯说：“帕金森氏症会使一切减慢”，这指的是身体的运动和内脏的功能。走得比平常慢是一种常见的征兆。

· Cognitive changes. Increased confusion and difficulty concentrating are also common signs of Parkinson’s disease, and often, these symptoms progress and get worse over time. Many people with Parkinson’s develop dementia.

认知变化。混乱加剧和注意力难以集中也是帕金森氏症的常见症状，而且这些症状往往会随着时间的推移而恶化。许多患有帕金森氏症的人患上了痴呆。

· Impaired balance. Walking and maintaining normal posture can become increasingly difficult.

平衡受损。行走和保持正常姿势可能会变得越来越困难。

· Loss of automatic movements. Because everything slows down, automatic movements such as breathing can become more difficult over time.

不能自主运动。因为一切都会慢下来，呼吸等自主动作可能随着时间的推移变得更加困难。

· Sensory changes. they may smell things that aren’t there or their sense of smell disappears all together.

感官变化。他们可能会闻到不存在的东西，或者他们的嗅觉全部消失。