Parkinson's could have played a role in Robin Williams's suicide

August 15, 2014  23:25

Less than a week after the untimely death of beloved comedy icon Robin Williams, a statement released by Williams’ wife, Susan Schneider, has revealed the actor was suffering from the early stages of Parkinson’s disease. Williams’ suicide that occurred this past Monday has been shrouded in speculation as people close to him and members of the general public try to understand what brought him to the ultimate decision to take his own life, Medical Daily claims.

Schneider’s statement:

«Robin's sobriety was intact and he was brave as he struggled with his own battles of depression, anxiety as well as early stages of Parkinson's Disease, which he was not yet ready to share publicly.

It is our hope in the wake of Robin's tragic passing, that others will find the strength to seek the care and support they need to treat whatever battles they are facing so they may feel less afraid».

According to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, started by fellow actor Michael J. Fox, mood disorders such as anxiety and depression are clinical symptoms of people suffering from Parkinson’s, similar to tremors, loss of movement, and trouble speaking. Experts agree that just over half of Parkinson’s patients suffer from clinical depression at some point in their disease, most notably when they are initially diagnosed. Evidence suggests the disease may cause chemical changes in the brain that often result in depression.

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson's is a degenerative, neurological disorder that predominately affects movement. According to the National Parkinson Foundation, between 50,000 and 60,000 people are diagnosed with Parkinson's every year.

Parkinson's, also known as PD, is named after English doctor James Parkinson, who published the first description of the brain disease in an essay in 1817.

Causes

The exact cause of the disease is unknown and PD is a very heterogeneous disease.  "Although symptoms may be similar in different individuals, there may be important differences in the underlying cause of the disorder," said neurologist and Ohio State professor Sandra Kostyk.

Parkinson's can be caused by genetics, outside factors (such as head injury or pesticide exposure) and, most often, a mixture of both. Men have a greater chance of contracting the disease than women, FoxNews reported.

Parkinson's is the result of cell loss in a few areas of the brain, especially the substantia nigra, which is responsible for the production of dopamine, which transmits signals within the brain that coordinate movement. Dopamine loss causes neurons to fire haphazardly, decreasing the control one has over his or her movements.

Symptoms

The cardinal symptoms of Parkinson's are the most evident to an observer. They include resting tremor (when a limb moves uncontrollably at rest but stops during voluntary movement), bradykinesia (slow voluntary movement) and balance problems, according to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

Other "non-motor" symptoms include cognitive impairment, memory loss, dementia, low blood pressure, constipation, depression, anxiety, insomnia, anosmia, sleep problems and drooling. Although cognitive difficulties can occur, most of time when someone with Parkinson's halts his or her speech, it is not a mental symptom but a physical one.

Diagnosis

PD is difficult to diagnose, especially during the early stages. No definitive tests exist yet, but patients are usually diagnosed after providing their medical history to a doctor and taking a neurological exam. A diagnosis will usually follow if a few of the cardinal symptoms are present.

After Michael J. Fox went public with his PD diagnosis, he became one of the world's most prominent figures in the battle against PD and established the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research in 2000. The foundation is the largest funder of Parkinson's-based research, after the federal government.

In interviews, Fox has often used the analogy that PD diagnosis is like standing in the middle of a road with cement shoes on, hearing a bus approaching. One doesn't know how large the bus is or how fast it is going, but you know it will hit you.

Treatment

PD is currently untreatable. Therapy aims to treat the symptoms that are more difficult for people with the disease. Since reactions to Parkinson's are not uniform or standard, there is no one treatment regimen that is best suited for everyone. Aside from support groups, physical and speech therapy and lifestyle changes, treatment can include medication and surgery. Some therapies can slow PD's progression.

Some PD drugs are dopaminergic, meaning they attempt to replenish an individual with the dopamine he or she lacks (Levodopa, Carbidopa). Other PD drugs are dopamine agonists, meaning they mimic the effect of dopamine on the brain (Pramipexole, Ropinerole, Bromocriptine). MAO-inhibitors (Selegiline, Rasagilene) and COMT-inhibitors (Entacapone, Tolcapone) increase the power and quantity, respectively, of Levodopa in the brain, raising dopamine levels.

Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter


 
  • Video
 
 
  • Event calendar
 
 
  • Archive
 
  • Most read
 
  • Find us on Facebook
 
  • Poll
Are you aware that in 2027 medical insurance will become mandatory for all Armenian citizens?
I’m aware, and I'm in favor
I’m not aware, and I'm against
I'm aware, but I'm still undecided
I'm not aware, but in principle I'm in favor
I'm not aware, but in principle I'm against
It doesn't matter to me