Shrinking Season 2 has recently concluded and fans are curious about what happens to Harrison Ford’s Dr. Paul Rhoades in the season finale. He is revealed to have had Parkinson’s disease in the Season 1 finale. However, Season 2 flashbacks reveal that Paul had been diagnosed long before the series’ events, and even before Jimmy’s wife Tia’s death in a tragic car accident.
So, here are all the details of Dr. Paul Rhoades’ medical condition in Season 2.
Dr. Paul’s disease in Shrinking Season 2 finale explained
Dr. Paul Rhoades suffers from Parkinson’s disease (PD) in Shrinking.
As per the World Health Organization, Parkinson’s disease is a brain condition that drastically affects a person’s movement, sleep, pain, and health issues.
Unfortunately, a cure for this disease is currently unavailable. However, treatments and therapies can help reduce the symptoms of the disease. The common symptoms include:
- Tremors
- Painful muscle contractions
- Speech difficulty
Treatments include:
- Medicines (most common one is Levodopa/carbidopa, which increases dopamine; anticholinergics is another medication which for PD patients, which reduces involuntary muscle movement)
- Surgery
- Rehabilitation (strength training, deep brain stimulation gait and balance training, hydrotherapy)
However, availability and affordability of PD medications and surgeries, varies depending on the country. Low and middle income countries typically do not have access to all medications and resources needed to treat the disease.
Parkinson’s disease can affect both motor and non-motor functions of the body. Motor symptoms include the aforementioned tremors, rigidity, slow and involuntary movement, walking difficulty, and imbalance.
Non-motor symptoms comprise impaired cognition, mental health disorders, sleep disorders, pain, and sensory disturbances.
Additionally, patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease can develop dementia.
Moreover, this disease typically affects old people, but can also show up in young people. Furthermore, the disease is more common in men than women.
Paul Rhoades’ Parkinson’s disease reaches an advanced stage in Season 2 and the symptoms become worse by the finale, to the point that the medicines he takes to treat the disease are not as effective as they were before. Paul’s neurologist Dr. Sykes explains that he has reached the dosage limit safe for him. As such, he is only left with the option of pursuing a more healthy lifestyle, which includes dropping unhealthy habits like drinking.
