PD Facts

What is Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder affecting 1 in 100 people over the age of fifty. Although the diagnosis is typically made in the fifth and sixth decades of life, approximately 7% of people diagnosed are younger than 40 years old.

Primary symptoms of Parkinson's disease include tremor, rigidity, slowness of movement, and impaired balance. In addition individuals may experience speech difficulties, fatigue, mood, memory, and sleep disturbances.

What is the Cause?

Parkinson's disease is the loss of dopamine-producing cells in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra. Over time the loss of cells continues and symptoms become more severe. Although much research is being done in this area, the cause of cell death is still unknown.

How is Parkinson's Disease Treated?

Current therapies aim to replace dopamine and decrease the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Medication, surgical interventions and rehabilitation are used.

What Research is being done?

The realm of research aimed at treating Parkinson's more effectively and at potential cures for this devastating disease is in an exciting phase. Currently work is in progress to replace and repair cells to be able to produce dopamine. Gene therapy, surgical therapies, and drugs that delay the progression of Parkinson's disease hold great hope for changing the disability of Parkinson's disease.

Advances in scientific understanding of Parkinson's and its progression have led to many new avenues of investigation the major limitation of which seems to be available funding.