Parkinson's disease

(My Father, My Brother, and Me; Understanding Parkinson's a Frontline presentation)



Parkinson's disease

Introduction

A neurological disorder that usually affects the balance, muscle control, and movement is the Parkinson's disease. It is known to affect the people of the age 55-75 years old, but it shows its effects in younger people as well. It is a progressive disease; its symptoms develop harsher over time. In early age this disease is usually difficult to diagnose, the symptoms may include the difficulty in eating and swallowing, problem in balancing, coordination and walking. Face, legs, arms and hands shake (tremors), speech problem, digestive issues, memory loss and depression. This is an incurable disease. This disease in humans more likely affects man then women. The main cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown. People believe that it might be due to genetic influences while other believes that the exposure to certain viruses or toxic substances seem to be the main cause. Some scientist believes environmental and genetic factors both contribute to trigger Parkinson's disease (Eeden et al, 2003).

Discussion

Dave Iverson, in “My father, My Brother and Me': Understanding Parkinson's, the PBS frontline presentation answers and seeks to find some responses to the mysteries that surround the Parkinson's disease. After watching the whole video, and considering the four main concept of the video that were presented within, after watching the video I realized that it was very hard to narrow my answers to only some main concepts. Some of the information was presented effectively while more of it touched me as an important aspect in the subject matter. First, is the definition of what exactly happens to the brain when a Parkinson affects it, it was very useful as initially, before I watched the video I knew that this disease related with the dopamine but I was not aware ...