Parkinson's disease, a chronic, neurological illness, involves the destruction or impairment of dopamine-producing brain cells. This is considered a "motor system" disorder because it affects a person's movement and coordination. The area of the brain that produces dopamine is called the substantia nigra, and the dopamine is a neurotransmitter, sending information to other parts of the brain to produce smooth movements. Approximately 80% of dopamine-creating cells can be damaged when Parkinson's disease occurs.
Key Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease Include:
tremor/shaking (hands, legs, arms, face)
slowness of movements
balance problems
rigidity or stiffness of trunk and limbs
Other Symptoms Include:
problems with speech and swallowing
depression
cramped handwriting
stiffness of facial expressions
Parkinson's disease is generally diagnosed and treated after the age of 50, but a minority of cases (such as that of Michael J. Fox) occur before this. There is no specific social, ethnic, or geographic preference; Parkinson's disease affects without regard. There is currently no cure. Blood work cannot confirm the disease, and often times MRIs must be done to rule out other neurological illnesses. Currently there are several medications to ease symptoms including Levadopa, which can make more dopamine in the brain, and Carpidopa, which delays the conversion of the Levadopa until it gets to the brain. These drugs and others can help with rigidity, tremor, and balance. Surgery sometimes helps in more severe cases.
The future of Parkinson's disease depends upon ongoing research. Current studies include finding out how the disease progresses, developing new drug therapies, searching for possible environmental or genetic triggers, and creating Parkinson's disease medication that delays, prevents, or reverses the neurological illness.
For more information, read Parkinson's Disease and Coping, Parkinson's-Plus Syndromes, Levodopa/Carbidopa for Parkinson's, and Muhammad Ali's Fight.
For related neurological information, check out the Neurological ARTICLE INDEX and Blog.
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