Parkinson Disease is a neurological illness named after Dr. James Parkinson, a London physician who was the first to describe it in 1817. Parkinson disease (or PD) is a disorder caused by the gradual loss of cells in a small part of the brain called the substantia nigra. The loss (death) of these cells produces a reduction in a vital chemical called "dopamine," which causes symptoms that may include shaking of hands, slowing down of movement, stiffness, and loss of balance. Other symptoms may include loss of facial expression, reduction in speech volume and clarity, difficulty swallowing, change in size of handwriting, dry skin, constipation, urinary difficulties, and depression. Because Parkinson disease is a progressive disorder, these symptoms worsen with time.
|
