Parkinsons Disease

Parkinsons disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. It belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders, which are the result of the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells.  It’s is a chronic and progressive movement disorder, meaning that symptoms continue and worsen over time.

Parkinsons involves the malfunction and death of vital nerve cells in the brain, called neurons. Parkinsons primarily affects neurons in the an area of the brain called the substantia nigra. Some of these dying neurons produce dopamine, a chemical that sends messages to the part of the brain that controls movement and coordination. As PD progresses, the amount of dopamine produced in the brain decreases, leaving a person unable to control movement normally.

The specific group of symptoms that an individual experiences varies from person to person. Primary motor signs of Parkinson’s disease include the following.

• tremor of the hands, arms, legs, jaw and face
• bradykinesia or slowness of movement
• rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk
• postural instability or impaired balance and coordination

Nearly one million people in the US are living with Parkinson’s disease. The cause is unknown, and although there is presently no cure, there are treatment options such as medication and surgery to manage its symptoms.