Parkinson's Disease Frequently Asked Questions

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system.

PD is characterized by tremor, usually when at rest, decreased spontaneous movements, slowness of movement, gait difficulty and rigidity. Patients with PD often experience postural instability or have a tendency to fall or lose their balance. Other complications include memory impairment, depression, low blood pressure, sexual dysfunction, and speech and swallowing difficulties.

These symptoms are due, in part, to the premature degeneration of nerve cells within the substantia nigra portion of the brain. As the nerve cells degenerate, the body’s ability to produce dopamine becomes affected. When there isn’t a sufficient or functioning level of dopamine, brain processes are not triggered into action.

It is not yet known what causes the neutrons to degenerate or cease to function. Nor is there a blood test or single physiological evaluation that can identify a PD patient prior to his or her systems being presented.

There are a variety of effective treatments currently available to help manage the disease’s side effects, including medication, surgery and complementary treatments.

Parkinson’s disease affects over one and a half million men and women in the United States today. Each year, approximately 50,000 new patients are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Although statistics show that 1 out of every 100 newly diagnosed case is over the age of 60, more and more younger patients are being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.