By: Ashley & Kendra

1. Parkinson Disease By: Ashley & Kendra

2. What is it? • Parkinson Disease (PD) is a disorder of the brain that causes a variety of movement problems.

3. Causes • The causes of Parkinson Disease remains unknown. • Many experts think that the disease is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. • Scientists have identified aging as an important cause.

4. Genetic Factors • About 15 to 25 percent of people with Parkinsonsreport having a relative with the disease. • Researchers have discovered several gene mutations that can cause the disease directly, but these affect only a small number of families.

5. Environmental Factors • Some scientists have suggested that Parkinson's disease may result from exposure to an environmental toxin or injury. • Researchers have identified several factors that may be linked to Parkinson’s. • rural living • well water • manganese • pesticides • Some studies have demonstrated that prolonged occupational exposure to certain chemicals can be a trigger as well.

6. Dopamine • A substance called dopamine acts as a messenger between two brain areas, the substantianigra and the corpus striatum to produce smooth, controlled movements. • When the amount of dopamine is too low, communication between the substantianigra and corpus striatum becomes ineffective, and movement becomes impaired. • The greater the loss of dopamine, the worse the movement-related symptoms

7. The Brain

8. Facts • Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. • The most common movement disorder. • In the United States, about 1 million people are affected by Parkinson's disease and worldwide about 5 million.

9. Common Symptoms • Primary symptoms include: • tremor, • stiffness, • slowness, • impaired balance • shuffling

10. Picture • Effects the present areas

11. Secondary Symptoms • Anxiety, insecurity, and stress • Confusion and memory loss • Constipation • Depression • Difficulty swallowing and excessive salivation • Increased sweating • Skin problem • Slowed, quieter speech, and monotone voice • Urinary frequency/urgency

12. At Risk • Most people who develop Parkinson's disease are older than 60 years of age. • Men are affected about 1.5 to 2 times more often than women. • People who have a family history of the disorder. • Exposure to environmental toxins such as pesticides and herbicides may be a risk factor.

13. Treatment • There is currently NO treatment to cure Parkinson's disease.

14. Treatment • For some individuals with unmanageable motor symptoms, surgery may be an option. • In deep brain stimulation(DBS), the surgeon implants electrodes to stimulate areas of the brain involved in movement. • In another type of surgery, specific areas in the brain that cause Parkinson's symptoms are destroyed. • An alternative approach currently being explored is the use of dopamine-producing cells derived from stem cells.

15. Treatment • General lifestyle changes (rest and exercise), physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy may be beneficial.

16. Prevention • Parkinson’s Disease is NOT preventable.

17. Prevention • The severity of Parkinson's disease symptoms vary greatly from individual to individual and it is not possible to predict how quickly the disorder will progress. • Parkinson's disease is not a fatal disease, and the average life expectancy is similar to that of people without the disease.

20. Bibliography • http://www.medicinenet.com/parkinsons_disease/article.htm • http://www.umm.edu/parkinsons/facts.htm?gclid=CJO2msCr868CFYZxOgody0m7XA • http://www.azilect.com/Consumer/About-Parkinson-s-Disease/Parkinson-s-Symptoms.aspx?s_mcid=google-ppc-&s_kwcid=TC|6774|parkinsons%20disease%20symptoms||S||6492865475&gclid=CJGPtMWr868CFYeo4AodehfvXA • http://www.pdf.org/en/about_pd