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What is Parkinson's Disease
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DonateAs Parkinson's disease progresses, other symptoms related to muscles and movement may develop. Patients may develop a poor posture (stooped posture) with drooping shoulders, feet shuffling, and the head extended or jutting forward. This often leads to balance problems and falls.
What is Parkinson's
PD is a neurodegenerative disease. It occurs when certain nerve cells, or neurons, die or become impaired. This degeneration takes place in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra, located in the brainstem, which is one of the centers that control movement (also called the basal ganglia). Normally, these neurons produce a chemical known as dopamine, which is responsible for transmitting signals across the nerve pathways to produce smooth, purposeful movements. Loss of dopamine causes nerve cells to fire abnormally. This leaves people living with PD with difficulty directing or controlling their movements in a natural manner. People living with PD have usually lost 80% or more of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra by the time symptoms are visually apparent. In addition, there is also neuronal cell loss and related pathology in other brain regions, responsible for other non-motor symptoms.
The main reason why these cells die or become impaired is still a mystery. Most scientists believe that both genetic and environmental factors are contributing causes. However, how they lead to PD is still unclear.
PD is a neurodegenerative disease. It occurs when certain nerve cells, or neurons, die or become impaired. This degeneration takes place in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra, located in the brainstem, which is one of the centers that control movement (also called the basal ganglia). Normally, these neurons produce a chemical known as dopamine, which is responsible for transmitting signals across the nerve pathways to produce smooth, purposeful movements. Loss of dopamine causes nerve cells to fire abnormally. This leaves people living with PD with difficulty directing or controlling their movements in a natural manner. People living with PD have usually lost 80% or more of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra by the time symptoms are visually apparent. In addition, there is also neuronal cell loss and related pathology in other brain regions, responsible for other non-motor symptoms.
The main reason why these cells die or become impaired is still a mystery. Most scientists believe that both genetic and environmental factors are contributing causes. However, how they lead to PD is still unclear.
