走近帕金森 About Parkinson's

Parkinson's disease（PD）（帕金森） is a dreadful（令人生畏的） word especially to old people. It is a progressive（渐进的） brain disease, which leads to tremors（颤抖）, stiffness（僵硬） and slow movement. It can also affect other body systems. Constipations（便秘）, sleep problems, cognitive changes and depression（抑郁） can occur. One of the hardest things about Parkinson's is that everyone with the disease embark on a unique journey. Each person has their own mix of symptoms（症状）, and there is no standard trajectory（轨迹） or path. But what does everyone with PD in common? In Parkinson's, the brain cells that make dopamine（多巴胺） stop working or die. When dopamine cells die, Parkinson's symptoms emerge. Exactly why these cells die is not well understood.There is no cure for Parkinson's so far.The current available PD meditation can't slow or stop the progression of the disease, but they can ease（缓解） some of the symptoms. Recent findings report those who practiced the martial art（武术） tai chi twice a week had a fewer complications and better quality of life than those who didn't. The traditional Chinese exercise combines slow, gentle movements with deep breathing and relaxation. In the research conducted by Shanghai Jiao Tong University school of Medicine, it is found that the disease progressed more slowly in the tai chi group on measurements of symptoms, movement and balance.This group also saw fewer falls, less back pain and dizziness（眩晕） with memory and concentration problems also lower than in the other group. At the same time, sleep and quality of life continuously improved. A professor from London called it an important study, but said there were limitations in its design and more trials（试验） were needed. Undoubtedly, tai chi as well as other forms of exercise are beneficial to Parkinson's, but which form of exercise is more beneficial, is an important goal to enhance the long term management of patients.