The neurotransmitter abnormality commonly associated with Parkinson's disease is:

DSSSB October 2024

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: DSSSB October 2024

Explanation

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra region of the brain.
Dopamine is a crucial neurotransmitter for controlling smooth, purposeful movements.
A deficiency in dopamine disrupts the balance with acetylcholine, leading to an excess of excitatory signals and causing the classic motor symptoms of tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia.
The primary treatment for Parkinson's involves medications like Levodopa, which is a precursor to dopamine and helps replenish its levels in the brain.

Option A: High levels of serotonin are not associated with Parkinson's disease. Serotonin is primarily involved in regulating mood, sleep, and appetite.
Option B: While autonomic dysfunction can occur in Parkinson's, a low level of epinephrine is not the primary cause of the disease's characteristic motor symptoms.
Option C: High levels of epinephrine are associated with the body's stress response ('fight or flight') and do not cause the chronic, progressive motor deficits seen in Parkinson's disease.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Pathophysiology of Parkinson's Disease helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding that Parkinson's is a dopamine-deficiency disorder is crucial for patient education and medication management. Nurses must emphasize the importance of taking medications like Levodopa/Carbidopa on a strict schedule to maintain stable dopamine levels and control symptoms.
Nurses play a key role in monitoring for both motor and non-motor symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and constipation, which are also linked to neurotransmitter changes in Parkinson's.
Patient safety is a top priority. Due to postural instability and bradykinesia, patients are at a high risk for falls. Nursing interventions focus on creating a safe environment and teaching compensatory strategies.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key concept in the question: 'Parkinson's disease' and 'neurotransmitter abnormality'.
Recall the fundamental pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease. This is a core topic in neurology.
Remember that the primary issue in Parkinson's is the loss of specific neurons in a particular brain region.
Connect the loss of these neurons to the specific neurotransmitter they produce. The substantia nigra produces dopamine.
Evaluate the options based on this core knowledge. The options involve different neurotransmitters and whether their levels are high or low.
Select the option that correctly identifies a low level of dopamine as the hallmark of Parkinson's disease.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Textbook of Biochemistry for medical StudentsDM Vasudevan Part 1 (pp 26-370 of 370) p. 308-310