Parkinson's disease
Overview
Parkinson's disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of Parkinson's disease are: involuntary shaking of particular parts of the body(tremor)slow movementstiff and inflexible muscles A person with Parkinson's disease can also experience a wide range of other physical and psychological symptoms. These include: depressionandanxietybalance problems (this may increase the chances of afall)loss of sense of smell(anosmia)problems sleeping(insomnia)memory problems
Causes
Parkinson's disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in part of the brain called the substantia nigra. This leads to a reduction in a chemical called dopamine in the brain. Dopamine plays a vital role in regulating the movement of the body. A reduction in dopamine is responsible for many of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Exactly what causes the loss of nerve cells is unclear. Most experts think that a combination of genetic and environmental factors is responsible.
Treatment
Levodopa (replaces dopamine); Dopamine agonists; MAO-B inhibitors; Physiotherapy. Surgery (DBS).
Prevention
Unknown.
When to see a doctor
See GP if: tremor or movement problems suspected.