Parkinson's Disease - Colorado Neurological Insititute

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurological condition named after Dr. James Parkinson, a London physician who was the first to describe the syndrome in 1817.

PD is a progressive disease that affects a small area of cells in the mid brain. Gradual degeneration of these cells causes a reduction in a vital chemical known as "dopamine." This decrease in dopamine can produce one or more of the classic signs of PD:

resting tremor on one side of the body
generalized slowness of movement (bradykinesia)
stiffness of limbs (rigidity
gait or balance problems (postural dysfunction

PD affects an estimated 1.5 million Americans, more persons than those suffering from multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy combined.

Although 15% of patients are diagnosed before age 50, PD is generally considered a disease that targets older adults.

Parkinson's disease affects one of every 100 persons over the age of 60. Thanks to public health strides and healthier lifestyle choices, many people now live well into their 80s.

While there is as yet no cure for this condition, progressive treatments allow many patients to maintain a high level of function throughout their lifetimes. It is crucial to note that Parkinson's disease is not a fatal illness.

The cause of Parkinson's disease remains a mystery. Most people who develop symptoms of primary Parkinson's disease have "Idiopathic Parkinson's disease" (idiopathic meaning the etiology or exact cause is unknown). Patients may attempt to link the onset of Parkinson symptoms with some acute trauma...an accident, surgery, or extreme emotional distress. Most neurologists discount any direct link; a traumatic event might trigger symptoms before they would otherwise manifest, but this should not be confused with actual causation of the Parkinsonism. After all, most people who experience these traumatic events do not develop a movement disorder such as PD.

There is a family history of PD in 5-10% of patients, affecting relatives in the same generation (e.g., siblings) as well as those in different generations (e.g., parent and child). However, in less than 1% of cases, PD is clearly familial. Several gene mutations have been shown to cause PD in a few families, but these have not been found in most individuals with PD. Studies of identical twins in which one twin was known to have PD showed no increase in the incidence of PD in the other twin compared to the general population of patients over the age of 60 years. However, among identical twins younger than 50, if one member of the twinship has Parkinson disease, there is an increased risk of PD in the other twin. This indicates heredity may play a role in young-onset cases. Currently, researchers suspect that the cause of PD in most individuals reflects a combination of genetic factors and environmental exposures.

To date, there is no known prevention or cure for Parkinson's disease. It would be a mistake for newly diagnosed patients to drift from doctor to doctor looking for a "magic bullet" or miracle drug to completely eliminate all symptoms of PD.

Source: National Parkinson Foundation

Parkinson’s Disease Facts