The Complications of Aging: Comparing Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease

Aging can be a beautiful thing. With age comes experience, wisdom, and a unique perspective fueled by both. In fact, our later years may be our true golden years. Unfortunately, however, aging can also lead to unique health problems that can mar this period of our lives. Two such illnesses are Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease.

The two conditions are the most common degenerative neurological diseases that develop as you age (though in some special cases, early onset of these conditions is possible). While there is some overlap between the two, they are fundamentally quite different. It is important to get a proper diagnosis to ensure that you’re given the proper treatment — what works for one condition may make another condition worse. For example, is there a difference in efficacy of StemCell Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease? To answer these questions and more, let’s take a look at the two and compare their causes, symptoms, and treatment. 

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer's Disease (often shortened to Alzheimer’s) is the most common form of dementia among older adults. It is an irreversible progressive disorder that causes brain cells to wither away and die. The early stages of the condition can be marked by the inability to remember recent events or conversations. As the condition progresses, it affects not only memory but cognition and behavior as well.

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive condition that degrades the nervous system and affects a person’s mobility. It usually appears gradually, and common early signals include a slight tremor in one hand, loss of movement or expression in the face, and softened or slurred speech. While there is no cure for the disease, it can be managed with the right treatment plan.

Let’s compare the two:

 

	Alzheimer’s	Parkinson’s Disease
Causes	No single underlying cause: a combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors Main biological hallmark: plaques and tangles in the brain Plaques — fragments of larger proteins cluster together and disrupt cell-to-cell communication.  Tangles —  tau proteins that form an important part of a neuron’s transport and support system change shape and reorganize leading to disruption.	No single underlying cause: Genetics and environmental triggers Main biological hallmark: Brain cells begin to break down Destruction of dopamine-producing neurons Clumps of specific substances in the brain known as Lewey Bodies Creates a particular substance that the body can’t break down and may be toxic to neurons
Symptoms	Memory loss regarding events, conversations, verbal skills, names, locations, activities, etc Difficulty thinking or concentrating, multi-tasking becomes difficult Impaired ability to make judgments and decisions in everyday situations Routine activities that require planning or following sequential steps becomes difficult Changes in personality: depression, apathy, mood swings, social withdrawal, delusions, distrust, wandering, loss of inhibition, irritability, and aggression	Tremors in limbs, usually the hands or fingers Forefinger and thumb may roll back and forth (pill-rolling tremor) Hands may tremble while at rest Slowed movement (bradykinesia) Rigid muscles or muscle stiffness Impaired posture or balance Loss of automatic movements Changes in speech: speed, volume, enunciation, hesitation Difficulty writing, changes in handwriting (becomes smaller)
Complications	Inability to communicate pain Difficulty following a treatment plan In later stages, brain damage may have a physical impact in areas such as swallowing, balance, and bowel movements	Depression and emotional changes Trouble chewing and swallowing Dementia Difficulty reasoning Problems with bowel movements Sleep disorders
Treatment	Medication to improve cell-to-cell communication Lifestyle changes to create a safe and supportive environment — implement a routine, tools such as whiteboards and sticky notes to act as reminders, meaningful objects to stimulate memory, etc Exercise Proper nutrition Social engagement	Medication to stimulate dopamine creation in the brain Surgeries such as deep brain stimulation to reduce symptoms Stem Cell Therapy

When you put them side by side, it’s easy to see how different the two diseases really are — although some complications of one could be mistaken for symptoms of the other. While Alzheimer’s mostly affects cognition, with physical symptoms taking a back seat, Parkinson’s Disease is the opposite. In fact, a common and simple way to differentiate between the two is the finger displacement test. In this test, a patient is asked to point at a ruler for 15 seconds, and then maintain the position for another 15, this time with their eyes closed. In patients with Parkinson’s Disease, the finger tends to drift several millimeters downwards, while there is little to no drift in patients with Alzheimer’s.

Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer’s

Another commonality between the two is that they’ve both shown promising responses to Stem Cell Therapy, especially Parkinson's Disease. Stem cells are blank canvases — cells without any fixed roles that adapt to the needs of the environment. They can be safely and easily extracted from the bone marrow of a patient, processed, and used to combat various conditions. These cells have regenerative properties that can help rebuild and detoxify damaged cell networks, particularly in the brain. Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease is becoming an increasingly popular treatment option, as it helps the brain organically create dopamine by helping rebuild the cells that were destroyed by the disease.

With comprehensive treatment plans for Alzheimer’s and options like Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease on the table, people can continue to enjoy their golden years to the fullest despite the wellness challenges that come with them.