PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Parkinson's disease



Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder. It occurs when certain nerve cells (neurons) in a part of the brain called the substantial nigra die or become impaired. Normally, these cells produce a vital chemical known as dopamine. Dopamine allows smooth, coordinated function of the body's muscles and movement. When approximately 80% of the dopamine-producing cells are damaged, the symptoms of Parkinson's disease appear.

Parkinson's disease is named after the British physician James Parkinson, who first described the illness. His original paper describing this disorder, published in 1817, was entitled “Essay on the Shaking Palsy.” It is a disease that is characterized by four major features is rest tremor of a limb (shaking with the limb at rest), slowness of movement (bradykinesia), rigidity (stiffness, increased resistance to passive movement) of the limbs or trunk, poor balance (postural instability).

When at least two of these symptoms are present, and especially if they are more evident on one side than the other, a diagnosis of PD is made, unless there are atypical features that suggest an alternative diagnosis. Patients may first realize something is wrong when they develop a tremor in a limb; movements are slowed and activities take longer to perform; or they experience stiffness and have balance problems. Initially, symptoms are a variable combination of tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity and postural instability. Symptoms typically begin on one side of the body and spread over time to the other side.

Parkinson's disease affects both men and women in almost equal numbers. It shows no social, ethnic, economic or geographic boundaries. In the United States, it is estimated that 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, joining the 1.5 million Americans who currently have Parkinson's disease. While the condition usually develops after the age of 65, 15% of those diagnosed are under 50. Parkinson's ...