Parkinson’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement and can significantly reduce quality of life. Treating it requires a comprehensive approach and specialised medical care. In Switzerland, thanks to advanced technology and a high level of medical expertise, patients with Parkinson’s disease have access to advanced diagnostic methods and effective treatment.

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Deep within the brain lies a cluster of nerve cells known as the basal ganglia. They help control the body’s movements. In a person with Parkinson’s disease, these nerve cells are damaged and do not work properly.

The cells of the basal ganglia produce a brain chemical called dopamine to send messages to other parts of the brain that coordinate movement. In Parkinson’s disease, dopamine levels are low, so the body does not receive the right signals. The person develops tremor in the hands and legs and impaired gait and coordination. The disease usually develops gradually and can considerably limit a person’s ability to live independently.

What causes Parkinson’s disease?

The disease develops through the loss of neurons that produce dopamine, the chemical responsible for transmitting signals between nerve cells. Factors that can harm nerve cells include:

  • the natural ageing process;
  • brain infections;
  • long-term use of neuroleptic medication;
  • atherosclerosis of the cerebral vessels;
  • head injuries;
  • brain tumours;
  • exposure to toxic substances.

The exact causes of the disease, however, remain unknown. They are thought to involve a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors.

How Parkinson’s disease is diagnosed at Swiss clinics

A medical examination may include the following diagnostic steps:

  • review of the patient’s medical and family history;
  • general physical examination;
  • tests of muscle strength, coordination and reflexes;
  • magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms;
  • assessment of dopamine levels in the brain using positron emission tomography (PET) or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

Other methods may also be used to refine the diagnosis, such as electroencephalography (EEG), genetic mutation tests and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid.

At present there is no blood test that can identify Parkinson’s disease, although active research is under way. Scientists recently found that a blood test can detect changes in the level of alpha-synuclein, a protein linked to the development of Parkinson’s disease. This could become the basis for a simple diagnostic test.

Treatment in Switzerland

Switzerland’s medical sector is highly developed, and patients with Parkinson’s disease can count on a high level of care and an individual approach to treatment. Effective treatment of Parkinson’s disease in Switzerland includes the following methods:

Drug therapy

Swiss doctors use advanced medicines and drug-therapy techniques to manage the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. These include medication aimed at improving motor function, reducing tremor and improving the patient’s quality of life.

Deep brain stimulation

This innovative procedure may be recommended for patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease. Deep brain stimulation involves implanting electrodes in specific areas of the brain to help control symptoms and improve quality of life.

At present, treatment of Parkinson’s disease is limited to symptomatic drug therapy. It improves the patient’s quality of life to a certain extent, while the underlying cause of the disease remains untreated.

Standard treatment is based on dopaminergic medicines that restore the concentration of dopamine in the striatum (a cluster of grey matter deep within the cerebral hemispheres), thereby improving motor function.

Although these medicines do not change the course of the disease or treat its non-motor manifestations, they significantly improve motor symptoms in most patients, especially in the early stages. Such treatment, however, has a serious drawback in the form of problematic side effects. Drug therapy with anti-Parkinson medication can be accompanied by hallucinations, cognitive impairment and dyskinesias (disorders of movement).

Physiotherapy and rehabilitation

Physiotherapy plays a key role in improving motor function and maintaining mobility in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Switzerland offers specialised physiotherapy and rehabilitation programmes that help patients manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Psychological support

Parkinson’s disease can have a considerable emotional and psychological impact on the patient and their family. In Switzerland, patients have access to psychological support and counselling that help them cope with emotional difficulties and adapt to the changes the disease brings.

Preventing Parkinson’s disease

There is currently no way to prevent the disease, but research has shown that certain measures can help reduce the risk of developing it or slow its progression:

  • Physical activity: choose exercise that improves coordination and balance, such as walking, dancing or yoga.
  • Healthy eating: a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, leafy greens, nuts and fish may help reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease. It is also advisable to avoid fatty and high-calorie foods and foods high in sugar.
  • Smoking and alcohol: these habits harm brain cells, so it is best to give them up.
  • Stress management: stress increases the risk of neurological disease, so it is worth learning to manage your emotions.
  • Sleep: maintaining healthy brain function requires a regular sleep–wake routine.

While these measures offer no guarantee of complete protection against Parkinson’s disease, they can help reduce the risk of developing it.

Parkinson’s disease is a serious condition that requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to treatment. In Switzerland, patients with this neurodegenerative disorder have access to advanced diagnostic methods, innovative treatment technologies and highly qualified specialists, making the country one of the leading medical centres for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

CorSwiss works with the world’s best medical centres specialising in the treatment of neurological diseases. We also advise on innovative approaches such as stem-cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease, which is currently being studied in clinical trials.