KXL Radio (750 AM) - Dr. Deborah Syna participated in the "Experts on the :20s" with expert insight on Parkinson's Disease. Interview aired April 6, 2006. Q: Some prominent community leaders or celebrities have been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease—Janet Reno, Michael J. Fox and Muhammad Ali, to name a few—so it's become a more widely known condition...yet many of us don't really understand what it is. Could you define Parkinson's Disease for us? A (Dr. Syna): I'd be happy to. Parkinson's Disease is a neurological condition marked by a loss of brain cells that produce the chemical dopamine. This loss of dopamine affects the chemical balance within the part of the brain-called the basal ganglia—that controls a person's motor function. Q: What are some of the symptoms of Parkinson's? A: There are several, actually, but key ones to recognize are muscle tremors, especially when a person is normally relaxed—these could affect the feet, hands or head. Other symptoms are balance problems; slowness of movement; and loss of facial expression. Parkinson's is more common in people over the age of 65, but the disease can be diagnosed in some people as young as those in their 30s. Some forms of the disease are genetically determined, while others emerge sporadically, with no trace of a family history. Q: What are some of the available treatments or therapies? A: There are medication and surgical options to treat Parkinson's, although some of the surgical options are still under investigation or are being refined. Medications to treat Parkinson's either provide dopamine or encourage the production of naturally occurring dopamine in the brain. Additional treatment options—often done in concert with the use of medications—include physical therapy, occupational therapy and counseling services so that patients with Parkinson's are better able to deal with the gradual progression of the disease. Q: What should a person do if he or she notices some of the symptoms associated with Parkinson's? A: The first thing that person should do is to contact a neurologist, hopefully one with experience in being able to differentiate neurological conditions that manifest themselves with tremors and movement disorders. Upon examination and an official diagnosis, the physician can determine the proper course of treatment for a patient. Q: What resources are there for Parkinson's patients? A: I sponsor a "brown bag lunch series" that I host in concert with the Providence Brain Institute and Parkinson's Resources of Oregon. The series is free and open to the public, and the next one will take place April 21 at noon at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. We will be discussing "How to get the most of Medicare: Purchasing the appropriate durable medical goods." All are welcome! For listeners interested in attending, they can call Parkinson's Resources of Oregon to RSVP 1-800-426-6806. They can also visit our Web site at www.portlandneurology.com to watch educational videos or print handouts on Parkinson's disease and related disorders. Patient and caregiver support groups, clinical trial information and links to national and world wide foundations are also available.