"Unable to Get Out of Bed After Two Years": Kim Yon-ja Shares Her Mother's Battle with Parkinson's Disease [Health Talk]

[Financial News] Singer Kim Yon-ja said her mother, who is battling Parkinson's disease, had deteriorated to the point that she could no longer get out of bed in just two years. Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by tremors, muscle rigidity and slow movement, and its symptoms generally progress gradually.
On the 28th, tvN's official social media accounts released a preview video featuring an interview with Kim Yon-ja ahead of the 30th broadcast of the entertainment program 'You Quiz on the Block.'
Kim Yon-ja recalled starting her career alone in Japan on Aug. 19, 1977, when she was 19, and spoke about her close relationship with her mother. She said, "I kept calling my mother because I was homesick. My international phone bill alone came to 300,000 won a month, so I was severely scolded, but we held onto the phone and cried together every day."
She then shed tears as she described her mother's current condition. Kim Yon-ja said, "She came with me even when we recorded the show two years ago, but she has acute Parkinson's disease. In just two years, she is already lying in bed and unable to get up."
She added, "She was like an older sister and a friend to me. She was so active that we even traveled to other regions together, so it is heartbreaking to see her like this."

Kim Yon-ja used the expression 'acute Parkinson's disease' on the program, but the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's National Health Information Portal describes Parkinson's disease as a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by resting tremors, bradykinesia and rigidity. Symptoms develop as dopamine-producing nerve cells that control movement in the brain decline.
Parkinson's disease generally develops gradually. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency explains that symptoms may initially begin mainly in one arm or leg, then affect both sides as the disease progresses. The condition can also affect balance and a person's ability to carry out daily activities independently. In severe cases, patients may have difficulty moving on their own and become dependent on a wheelchair or bed.
Therefore, the specific diagnosis or stage of the disease cannot be determined from the expression 'acute Parkinson's disease' alone. A neurologist makes the actual diagnosis by considering the patient's motor symptoms, response to treatment, rate of disease progression and other neurological symptoms.

Although hand tremors are often the first symptom people associate with Parkinson's disease, the condition can cause a wide range of symptoms. According to Asan Medical Center's disease encyclopedia, major motor symptoms include tremors at rest, muscle rigidity, bradykinesia, postural instability and gait abnormalities.
Nonmotor symptoms may also occur. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency explains that Parkinson's disease can cause cognitive impairment, depression and anxiety, sleep disturbances, constipation, urinary problems, orthostatic hypotension, abnormal sweating, reduced sense of smell and pain. Some nonmotor symptoms may begin before motor problems appear.
Parkinson's disease is not a condition that can be definitively diagnosed through a single blood test or brain-imaging test. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency explains that diagnosis is based primarily on the patient's clinical symptoms and disease progression, with additional tests performed when necessary to distinguish Parkinson's disease from other conditions.

When Parkinson's symptoms worsen rapidly, doctors may also need to distinguish other diseases that cause similar symptoms from Parkinson's disease.
Asan Medical Center explains that atypical parkinsonian syndromes are conditions that cause tremors, rigidity and slow movement similar to those seen in Parkinson's disease, along with other neurological symptoms. Doctors may consider atypical parkinsonian syndromes when there is little response to medication from the early stages, symptoms progress rapidly, or severe falls, urinary problems or orthostatic hypotension appear early.
However, Kim Yon-ja's mother's exact diagnosis and current disease stage cannot be confirmed based solely on her public comments. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency also explains that Parkinson's disease and atypical parkinsonian syndromes can be difficult to distinguish in the early stages. Diagnosis may require long-term observation of medication response, disease progression and accompanying symptoms.

Treatment for Parkinson's disease varies according to the patient's symptoms and stage of progression. Asan Medical Center describes medication and exercise therapy as the main treatments. Medications such as Levodopa and dopamine agonists are used, while surgical treatments such as deep brain stimulation may be considered for some patients depending on their symptoms and response to medication.
Exercise therapy helps maintain muscle strength and mobility. As Parkinson's disease progresses, movement may slow, muscles may stiffen and posture may become stooped. Stretching, strength training and gait exercises are performed according to the patient's condition.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency explains that Parkinson's disease can range from a stage in which patients can perform daily activities independently to one in which they require help from a caregiver, and eventually to a stage in which they depend on a wheelchair or bed. Medical professionals assess the exact stage and treatment approach based on the patient's movement, balance, ability to perform daily activities and response to medication.
[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter