Parkinson's Disease:

1
Parkinson's Disease A nervous affair

• Facts and general information
• Symptoms
• Early Signs
• Background information

An in depth guide to the disease, as well as
information on treatment and possible methods of
approaching the disease. John Flanagan Module 4
Lesson 3.1
2
What is Parkinsons disease?

• A progressive neural disorder
• Affects the motor coordination of an individual
• Disrupts the production of dopamine
• Causes the eventual death of nerve cells

3
Symptoms and Signs of Parkinsons

• Rigid or stiff muscles
• Body tremors
• Bradykinesia-the slowing down and eventual loss
  of spontaneous activity
• Shaking of various limps in the body
• Loss of balance

4
Where does Parkinsons Originate?
In 1817, James Parkinson, a British physician
made reports on several of his patients that
exhibited conditions that were similar to the
disease nowadays known as Parkinsons. He
described the symptoms through an essay, An
Essay on The Shaking Palsy. Through the next
hundred years, little development has made in the
field of the disease, until a French neurologist,
Jean Martin Charcot elaborated on the disease.
He named the symptom's under Parkinsons name,
hence Parkinsons disease.
5
How does Parkinsons affect people?
In an area of the brain called the midbrain,
there are certain neurons that contain a dark
pigment, melanin. A Latin term, substantia
nigra is given to the cluster of neurons,
meaning black substance. The melanin in the
substantia nigra produce a chemical called
dopamine. This chemical acts as a transmitter
for electrical signals between the substantia
nigra and several other clusters of neurons.
These neuron groups form a section called the
basal ganglia, which is crucial to the ability
to move normally.
Substantia Nigra
6
Celebrity with Parkinsons
The famed actor and musician, Michael J. Fox,
lived a seemingly normal life through his earlier
years. At a young age of 30, he was diagnosed
with young onset Parkinson's disease. He was
just finishing up his 100th episode and forth
season on Spin City. Deciding it was a opportune
time to retire from that, he later announced he
would continue doing voice and play acting, but
stop his weekly showing in the series.
After his retirement from Spin City, he devoted
the major portion of his life to the development
and research of Parkinsons disease. In 2000, he
announced his retirement plans and went on to
develop the Michael J. Fox Foundation, devoted
solely to the research of Parkinsons disease.
His foundation strongly believes, with a
concentrated effort, as well as the assistance of
the government and the general public, a cure for
Parkinsons disease can be made by the year 2010.
7
A few closing words
Parkinsons disease is a chronic and incurable
ailment that afflicts a growing number of people
each year. While there is no cure at this time,
ongoing research is being done by several
government funded and non-profit organizations.
The immediate answer to the disease now is
exercise, doctor prescribed drugs, and early
detection of the disease. With the help of
scientists and a willing general public,
Parkinsons can and will be combated until it is
no longer a threat.
8
Bibliography

• WebMD From the Cleveland Clinic Parkinsons
  Disease Basics. WebMD.com. 10 October 2002
  lthttp//www.mywebmd.com/condition_center)content?
  prk/article/1833.50771?z1833_50733_6511_gt
• The Parkinsons Institute. Parkinsons
  Institute.org. 10 October 2002
  lthttp//www.parkinsonsinstitute.org/movement_diso
  rders/parkinsons.html