Political economy
The critical approach in Medical anthropology uses a theoretical approach, when considering the political economy of health and health care, and the effect of social inequality on people's health. Political economy is a huge component of critical medical anthropology. It includes the study of producing and exchanging goods, and the influence of government policy and capitalism on all aspects of life. When taking a critical approach, medical anthropologists will look at how health services are differentially allocated based on wealth, and which policy impacts health and delivery of health services. The critical approach will uncover hidden causes of poor health as they relate to social status, race, living conditions, and other factors. Parkinson's Disease is an idiopathic disease, meaning it has an unknown cause. As of right now, there is not much a medical anthropologist could work with from a critical approach, due to the unknown cause of the disease. However, there has been a strong correlation between Parkinson's Disease and those who are exposed to pesticides. This shows that Parkinson's Disease is common among farmers. In April 2009, researchers at UCLA announced they had discovered a link between PD and two chemicals commonly sprayed on crops (Wheeler 2011). In a epidemiological study, not only farmers but nearby neighbors of farm fields were examined. “It found that the risk of for Parkinson's disease for these people increased by 75 percent” (Wheeler 2011). This research could give anthropologists a reason to study the connections between this disease and the living conditions of these farmers and nearby neighbors. Also the economic class that they may be associated with.
Cultural History of Parkinson's
Parkinson's affects approximately 1 million people in the United States and 5 million people world wide ("Understanding Parkinson's" 2013). It has been around since 1815 but no cure has been discovered. Although researches have evolved a great deal with their studies of PD, Levedopa, which has been around since the 1970s, is still the main and most effective drug used to treat PD ("Understanding Parkinson's" 2013). Parkinson's has been around for a long time, and many foundations and organizations, such as The Michael J. Fox and The Parkinson's Disease Foundation, are there to raise awareness, fund for research, and provide useful information or patients with PD. Thanks to these researchers and foundations, Parkinson's can be treatable and manageable, with medicine, care providers, and other helpful tools. In social aspects, seeing famous celebrities who struggle with PD, has opened the eyes of those living in Western Culture. Michael J. Fox, Mohammed Ali, and Davis Phinney, were all diagnosed with Parkinson's at a young onset. Seeing these celebrities succeed, gives hope to patients all of the world suffering from PD. The popular American culture became more aware of this disease once Michael J. Fox was diagnosed. With only 1% of the population affected with PD, it is not a well known disease. With the celebrities mentioned above, it has become more prevalent in everyday life. The American Culture also perceives PD as a disease that comes with age, because Parkinson's is most common in the elderly.
medicalization
The definition of Medicalization is the control over bodies and behaviors through medical interventions. This relates to PD because there are medicines and other treatments that have proved to treat patients. PD is a degenerative, neurological disorder that is difficult to control but fits more perfectly with biomedicalization. Biomedicalization refers to the enhancement of bodies and behaviors through medical interventions. There is no cure for PD, therefore medical professionals work with patients to find the best treatment for them. Treatments include medication, most commonly Levedopa, which is converted by enzymes in the brain to produce dopamine, which supplements function lost as dopamine-producing neurons die. In the video to the right, a patient with PD has trouble with the crashes of Levedopa in pill form. The patient went on a trial for a different administrating method of levedopa. Levedopa is administered in a gel form, consistently throughout the day ("New Parkinson's Disease Treatment" 2012). This helped with the bursts and crashes he would receive during the day and assisted in being active throughout the day.
Another major treatment of PD is Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). This treatment is usually not used until the medication stops working. In DBS, an electrode is implanted into the brain, which target motor circuits that are not functioning properly. A device similar to a pacemaker is used to stimulate a small region of the brain and block the signals that cause some symptoms ("Deep Brain Stimulation and Surgical Treatments." 2013). |
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"New Parkinson's Disease Treatment." Cleveland Clinic 07 05 2012. Web, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaCiXlXwBp8.
Michael J. Fox Foundation, "Deep Brain Stimulation and Surgical Treatments." Last modified 2013. Accessed August 10, 2013.
https://www.michaeljfox.org/understanding-parkinsons/living-with-pd/topic.php?deep-brain-stimulation.
Michael J. Fox Foundation, "Understanding Parkinson's." Last modified 2013. Accessed August 10, 2013.
https://www.michaeljfox.org/understanding-parkinsons/living-with-pd/topic.php?deep-brain-stimulation.
Wheeler, Mark. "High risk of Parkinson's disease for people exposed to pesticides near workplace / UCLA Newsroom." Home / UCLA
Newsroom. http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/high-risk-of-parkinson-s-disease-204133.aspx (accessed August 10, 2013).
Michael J. Fox Foundation, "Deep Brain Stimulation and Surgical Treatments." Last modified 2013. Accessed August 10, 2013.
https://www.michaeljfox.org/understanding-parkinsons/living-with-pd/topic.php?deep-brain-stimulation.
Michael J. Fox Foundation, "Understanding Parkinson's." Last modified 2013. Accessed August 10, 2013.
https://www.michaeljfox.org/understanding-parkinsons/living-with-pd/topic.php?deep-brain-stimulation.
Wheeler, Mark. "High risk of Parkinson's disease for people exposed to pesticides near workplace / UCLA Newsroom." Home / UCLA
Newsroom. http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/high-risk-of-parkinson-s-disease-204133.aspx (accessed August 10, 2013).