What is Parkinson’s Disease? | Life in Sight

1. What is Parkinson’s Disease? Life in Sight

2. What is Parkinson’s Disease Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that affects movement. It slowly deteriorates parts of the brain that control muscle movement. It occurs when dopamine neurons in a part of the brain called the substantianigra (this part of the brain is involved in controlling movement) die.

3. Key Parkinson’s Disease Aspects • Smooth and controlled muscle movements are created by the presence of dopamine. Parkinson’s disease reduces the levels of dopamine in muscle cells, affecting the ability to create controlled movement, and causing tremors, a telltale sign of Parkinson’s disease. • Presently, there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease. • The complications can even lead to death in certain cases. • During the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, symptoms can sometimes be minute and difficult to notice. A person’s face may show no or little expression, or they may or may not be able to swing the arms properly when they are walking. • Parkinson’s disease treatments include medications to regulate brain dopamine concentrations. There are also drug therapies to reduce tremors and improve muscle movement.

4. Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms • Tremor or shaking in limbs, often the hands or fingers • Loss of automatic movements • Slowed movement • Change in posture and balance • Rigid muscles and restricted movement of the limbs • Changes in speech • Difficulty in writing • Slurred speech • Muscle stiffness

5. Key Parkinson’s Disease Statistics • It is estimated that nearly one million people will be living with Parkinson’s disease in the US by 2020. This figure is more than people diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, Lou Gehrig’s disease, and multiple sclerosis combined. • There are around 60,000 new cases of Parkinson’s Disease in America every year. • More than 10 million people across the world living with Parkinson’s Disease. • Parkinson’s disease treatments can improve symptoms drastically, but as mentioned before, there is still no cure for Parkinson’s disease • Around 4% of people with Parkinson’s Disease are diagnosed before the age of 50. • Men are more likely to have this disease than women

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