Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that causes shaking and other uncontrollable movements, trouble with balance and coordination, and stiffness. Symptoms usually start out mild and get worse over time. As the disease advances, people may have trouble walking and talking. They also may have mental and behavioral changes, sleep problems, depression, memory issues, and fatigue.
Parkinson’s is caused by reduced production of dopamine, an important chemical in the brain. Nerve cells in a certain area of the brain that produce dopamine become impaired or die, resulting in less dopamine. It is not known what causes these cells to die. There is no cure for Parkinson’s, but medication, surgery, and other treatments often can relieve some symptoms.
Parkinson’s usually affects people age 60 or older, though 5-10% of cases start before age 50. Some research suggests that it affects more men than women. Certain forms of Parkinson’s that begin at a younger age may be passed down from parents, and some forms have been linked to abnormalities in a person’s genes. Nearly 90,000 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease every year in the United States, and that number appears to be growing quickly.
Care Providers
Resources
- American Parkinson Disease Association
- Parkinson Association of Alabama
- Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s
- Michael J. Fox Foundation
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Parkinson’s Disease: The Essentials (webinar), American Parkinson Disease Association
- Parkinson’s Foundation
- The Parkinson’s Handbook, American Parkinson Disease Association
Related Specialties
- Deep brain stimulation
- Division of Memory Disorders and Behavioral Neurology
- Geriatric services
- Neurology and neurosurgery
- Physical therapy
- Sleep/Wake Disorders Center
Clinical Trials
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