

Emotions wield considerable influence over our behavior, governing hormonal balance and critical bodily functions. They can also elicit potent physical reactions, like heightened heart rate and blood pressure when a berry picker encounters a bear or butterflies flutter in the stomach on a first date. These emotional responses are mirrored in the symptoms of various neurological and psychiatric disorders like parkinson’s disease, often exacerbating disease manifestations, particularly those stemming from negative emotions.
Explore the latest advancements in Parkinson’s Disease by attending the Global Neurology Summit 2024 at Anaheim, California.
Parkinson’s disease, a neurological condition affecting movement, manifests in motor symptoms such as slowness, stiffness, and tremors. It is also linked to non-motor symptoms like depression, anxiety, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction, impacting blood circulation and gastrointestinal function.
Dr. Kalle Niemi, a neurology specialist, along with his colleagues, studied the bodily sensations associated with basic emotions (anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise, and neutrality) in Finnish patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Subjects were asked to depict their symptoms and bodily sensations linked to different emotions on an electronic body map using a computer mouse.
Parkinson’s patients exhibited significant differences in bodily sensations related to basic emotions compared to control subjects. Notably, sensations of anger, typically felt in the chest among healthy individuals, diminished and shifted toward the abdominal region as Parkinson’s disease advanced, aligning with autonomic nervous system dysfunction associated with the condition.
“In recent years, there has been a growing realization that the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease have a significant impact on the patients’ quality of life. The results of our study highlight yet another non-motor phenomenon.”- MD Kalle Niemi
Emotional abnormalities are common in psychiatric disorders, but this study is the first to show abnormalities in the emotion-related bodily sensations in a neurological disorder. The results may open up new perspectives into the symptoms and possibly even treatment of symptoms in neurological disorders.
“The results of our study raise many interesting questions about the role of emotions in the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Extending our research method to other diseases offers new possibilities for neurology research,” summarises Juho Joutsa, Professor of Neurology at the University of Turku and principal investigator of the study.
For more information: Bodily Maps of Symptoms and Emotions in Parkinson’s Disease, Movement Disorders, https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.29785
more recommended stories
Philippines Strengthens ASF Detection and Control
Innovative Solutions for Rapid ASF Detection.
Key Immune Pathways in Centenarians Identified
Centenarians Offer Clues to Healthy Aging.
Action Video Games and Brain Health: Study Insights
Gaming and Brain Structure: What MRI.
Creatine May Boost Muscle Strength in Alzheimer’s Patients
Creatine Supplementation Shows Promise in Alzheimer’s.
New Drug STF-1623 Shows Promise in Treating Solid Tumors
STF-1623 Transforming ‘Cold’ Tumors into ‘Hot’.
Macrophage Microautophagy Supports Immune Readiness
A Breakthrough in Cellular Recycling Macrophages,.
The Role of α-Glucosidase in Type 2 Diabetes
α-Glucosidase Inhibition: Functional Food Compounds for.
Oral Bacteria Linked to Atherosclerosis
New Evidence Links Viridans Streptococci to.
CDI Test Shows Early Detection Potential in Alzheimer’s
Breakthrough Study Highlights Brain Blood Flow.
Prenatal Chlorpyrifos Exposure and Pediatric Brain Changes
A Growing Concern in Pediatric Neurodevelopment.
Leave a Comment