1. Contrasted
   1. Parkinson's disease is an incurable illness of the nervous system involving the neuro-transmitters in the brain
      1. shaking in body and limbs
   2. Parkinson's disease seems to concentrate more on physical handicaps
   3. Alzheimer's disease appears to afflict the mental abilities prior to the motor skills and physical skills deteriorating
2. Compared
   1. afflict around 500,000 individuals annually
   2. symptoms of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease can be very much alike and possibly develop along the same lines
   3. both diseases progress as the years go by
   4. both are a neurodegenerative disorder
3. Symptoms of Parkinson's
   1. Rigidity
   2. anxiety
   3. stress
   4. skin problems
   5. insecurity
   6. male erectile dysfunction
   7. slowed, quieter speech, and monotone voice
   8. urinary frequency/urgency
   9. increased sweating
   10. dementia(more in elderly)
   11. diminished sense of smell
   12. difficulty swallowing and excessive salivation
   13. depression
   14. memory loss(more in elderly)
   15. constipation
   16. confusion(more in elderly)
   17. Postural instability
   18. Parkinsonian gait
   19. Bradykinesia
   20. tremors
4. Parkinson's medications
   1. levodopa (Sinemet)
      1. side effects
         1. dizziness upon rising
         2. confusion
         3. movement disorders
         4. nausea
         5. hallucinations
5. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
   1. Problems of memory, particularly for recent events (short-term memory)
   2. Mild personality changes, such as less spontaneity, apathy, and a tendency to withdraw from social interactions
   3. problems in abstract thinking and in other intellectual functions develop
   4. disturbances in behavior and appearance for example agitation, irritability, quarrelsomeness, and a diminishing ability to dress appropriately.
   5. affected individuals may become confused or disoriented about what month or year it is
   6. unable to describe accurately where they live, or be unable to name a place being visited
   7. patients may wander, be unable to engage in conversation, erratic in mood, uncooperative, and lose bladder and bowel control
   8. persons may become totally incapable of caring for themselves
6. Alzheimer medications
   1. medication based
      1. cholinesterase inhibitors
         1. block the breakdown of acetylcholine, more acetylcholine is available in the brain
            1. donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept)
            2. side effects
            3. stomach ulcers
            4. abnormal heart beats
            5. fainting
            6. joint pain
            7. insomnia
            8. increased frequency of urination
            9. Seizures
            10. vomiting
            11. nausea
            12. dizziness
            13. fatigue
            14. generalized pain
            15. headache
            16. muscle cramping
            17. loss of appetite
            18. weight loss
            19. diarrhea
            20. rivastigmine (Exelon)
            21. side effects
            22. weight loss
            23. fainting
            24. Seizures
            25. vomiting
            26. loss of appetite
            27. dizziness
            28. nausea
            29. low blood pressure
            30. depression
            31. galantamine (Razadyne - previously called Reminyl)
            32. side effects
            33. fatigue
            34. headache
            35. vomiting
            36. abdominal pain
            37. depression
            38. fainting
            39. diarrhea
            40. weight loss
            41. nausea
            42. tacrine (Cognex)
            43. side effects
            44. skin rash
            45. vomiting
            46. diarrhea
            47. abdominal pain
            48. indigestion
            49. nausea
            50. liver damage
      2. partial glutamate antagonists
         1. Memantine (Namenda)
            1. partially decreases the effect of glutamate to activate nerve cells
            2. most common side effects
            3. fatigue
            4. pain
            5. increases in blood pressure
            6. dizziness
            7. headache
            8. constipation
            9. vomiting
            10. back pain
            11. confusion
            12. somnolence
            13. hallucination
            14. coughing
            15. difficulty breathing
   2. non-medication based
      1. maximizing patients' opportunities for social interaction and participating in activities such as walking, singing, dancing that they can still enjoy.
      2. cognitive rehabilitation, (whereby a patient practices on a computer program for training memory)
7. Patient education
   1. provide a safe living environment
   2. additional medical help may be needed as disease progresses
   3. take any medication as perscribed