The 81-year-old is said to be struggling with speech and mobility issues (Pic credit: AP File/iStock)
Former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Robert Mueller, has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, his family has informed. The 81-year-old is said to be struggling with speech and mobility, and these difficulties have left him unable to comply with a congressional subpoena concerning the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
Mueller served the FBI from 2001 to 2013. He was also the former special counsel leading the Russia investigation involving President Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
What is Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a condition that leads to deterioration of a part of your brain, leading to more severe symptoms over time. Doctors say even though this condition is best known for how it affects muscle control, balance, and movement, it also causes a wide range of other effects on your senses, thinking ability, mental health, and many more.
According to experts, the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease naturally increases with age, and the average age at which it starts is 60 years old. It’s slightly more common in males.
Parkinson’s is a very common condition, ranking second among age-related degenerative brain diseases. It is also a common motor brain disease, affecting at least one per cent of those who are above the age of 60 years across the world.
How does Parkinson’s affect your body?
Doctors say the condition causes the basal ganglia – a specific area in your brain – to deteriorate. As it deteriorates, you may lose the abilities those areas once controlled. Researchers have uncovered that Parkinson’s disease causes a major shift in your brain chemistry.
Under normal circumstances, your brain uses chemicals known as neurotransmitters to control how your brain cells communicate with each other. When you have Parkinson’s disease, you don’t have enough dopamine, one of the most important neurotransmitters. When your brain sends activation signals that tell your muscles to move, it fine-tunes your movements using cells that require dopamine. That’s why a lack of dopamine causes slowed movements and tremors.
Signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s
A few signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include:
- Slowed movements
Tremor while muscles are at restRigidity or stiffnessUnstable posture or walking gait- Blinking less often than usual
Cramped or small handwriting- Drooling
- Mask-like expressions of the face
- Trouble swallowing
- Unusually soft speaking voice
- Depression
- Sleep issues
- Loss of smell
- Trouble thinking and focusing
Can Parkinson’s disease be cured?
According to experts, Parkinson’s disease cannot be cured; however, there are various ways to manage its symptoms. The treatments also vary from person to person, depending on their specific symptoms and how well certain treatments work. Medications are the primary way to treat this condition.
A secondary treatment option is surgery to implant a device that will deliver a mild electrical current to part of your brain – also known as deep brain stimulation. There are also some experimental options, such as stem cell-based treatments, but their availability often varies, and many are not an option for people with Parkinson’s disease.
This news item came from: https://www.timesnownews.com/health/ex-fbi-director-robert-mueller-who-investigated-trump-on-russiagate-diagnosed-with-parkinsons-all-about-the-condition-article-152642914
