- Outpatients with Parkinson's disease can benefit from a new video-
supported therapy, which helps match their medication with their
individual needs at home, according to the Berlin-based Professional
Association of German Neurologists (BDN).
For example, if the medication has been changed, patients are given
an easy-to-operate camera for one month. About three or four times a
day, the patient sits in front of the video and activates the
recording.

'The doctor then views the images, sent to him automatically, and
can discuss therapy changes with the patient over the phone,' says
Karl-Otto Sigel, a neurologist from Unterhaching and member of BDN's
board of directors.

'Thanks to the video recordings, attending doctors can see the
actual degree and kind of disability the patient has,' explained
Sigel.

Parkinson's Disease is a slow advancing serious neurological
disease, which results in the death of brain cells that create
dopamine. Symptoms range from stiffening to twitching muscles and
movement difficulty to paralysis. Early stages of the disease are
often marked by mood changes and depression.

'Parkinson's therapy should begin promptly and be age-appropriate,'
says Sigel. Parkinson's cannot be cured, but therapy can minimize
the effects.

According to the BDN, about 160,000 Germans suffer from Parkinson's.
Men are affected more than women. Most cases occur between 40 and 60
years.

11th September, 2007(Malaysia Sun)