The symptoms of Parkinson's disease are caused by degeneration of a structure of the brain called the substantia nigra. This causes a lack of a neurotransmitter called dopamine.
Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s disease. A study in Singapore showed that Parkinson's disease occurs as commonly as in the West. Three out of every thousand individuals, aged 50 years and above, have this disease.
Movement disorders refer to a group of neurological conditions that result in disorders of normal body movements. This may refer to conditions that slow down body movements such as Parkinson's disease or conditions that are associated with abnormal or increased body movements.
The disorders we often see in our movement disorders clinics include:
These abnormal movements may arise from a variety of diseases and careful evaluation is necessary to determine the underlying cause.
As Singapore’s population continues to age, the number of people with Parkinson's disease and movement disorders, such as essential tremor, dystonia, chorea and myoclonus will rise. As with many other medical conditions, these diseases currently do not have a cure. However, there are effective treatments available to control symptoms and improve daily function. Minimally invasive surgery is also available to treat patients with advanced disease.
The Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders Programme emphasises the provision of comprehensive clinical services coupled with strong research initiatives. A multi-disciplinary team of neurologists, neurosurgeons, nurse clinicians, therapists and medical social workers, work together to provide the best care for our patients.
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