What causes Parkinson's and who gets the disease?
Frequently Asked QuestionsResearch to date has not been able to identify the exact cause of this condition. There is evidence to suggest that some people may have a genetic predisposition to Parkinson's, but there is no clear evidence to suggest that it is hereditary. Other risk factors that have been identified are head injury, direct occupational pesticide exposure and the age-related loss of brain cells that transmit nerve impulses. Despite popular belief, Parkinson's is not found only in the elderly.
Related QuestionsWhat Causes Parkinson's Disease?
Frequently Asked Questions About Parkinson's DiseaseAlthough there are many theories about the cause of Parkinson's disease, none has ever been proved. Recent studies of twins and families with Parkinson's have suggested that some people have an inherited susceptibility to the disease that may be influenced by environmental factors. The strong familial inheritance of the chromosome 4 gene is the first evidence that a gene alteration alone may lead to Parkinson's disease in some people.
Related QuestionsWhat is Parkinson's disease?
FAQ about Parkinsons Disease- My Parkinson's InfoParkinson's disease is a condition that occurs when the dopamine producing neurons in a portion of the brain called the substantia nigra die off at an alarming rate. When 20-30% of the dopamine producing neurons remain, patients start to experience symptoms such as stiffness, tremors, difficulty balancing and slowness of movement (bradykinesia).
Related QuestionsWhat causes Parkinson's disease to appear?
PDF - Parkinson's Disease Foundation, Inc. | Ask the ExpertAt this time, we do not yet know the cause(s) of classic (idiopathic) Parkinson's disease. Many different theories have been and continue to be under investigation in an effort to pinpoint the factor/factors that need to be involved for this disease to develop.
Related QuestionsParkinson Profile | Parkinson ProfileThe cause of Parkinson's Disease is not known. Some researchers believe it may result from toxins, head traumas or strokes. Parkinson's Disease may also have a genetic link.Related Questions
Welcome to ParkinsonsHealth.comMovement and coordination in your body are controlled in part by a chemical in your brain called dopamine. In Parkinson's disease, dopamine-producing nerve cells are damaged, gradually reducing dopamine levels in the parts of the brain thought to control movement. Without dopamine, the brain doesn't send signals to the muscles so that they can function properly. The cause of Parkinson's disease is still unknown.Related Questions
Parkinson's Disease: Frequently Asked QuestionsParkinson's disease is caused by the progressive impairment or deterioration of neurons (nerve cells) in an area of the brain known as the substantia nigra. When functioning normally, these neurons produce a vital brain chemical known as dopamine. Dopamine serves as a chemical messenger allowing communication between the substantia nigra and another area of the brain called the corpus striatum. This communication coordinates smooth and balanced muscle movement.Related Questions
PDF - Parkinson's Disease Foundation, Inc. | Ask the ExpertParkinson's disease is a chronic, progressive, neurologic disorder. An important part of its mechanism is the loss of the neurotransmitter dopamine in a group of brain structures that control movements. Its major manifestations are variable but can include hand tremor, slowness of movements, limb stiffness, and difficulties with gait and balance.Related Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Parkinson's DiseaseParkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that results from degeneration of neurons (nerve cells) in a region of the brain that controls movement. This degeneration creates a shortage of the brain-signaling chemical (neurotransmitter) known as dopamine, causing the impaired movements that characterize the disease.Related Questions
Parkinson's Disease: Am I At Risk? | AHealthyMe.comThere's no doubt that damaged or dying nerve cells in a part of the brain known as the substantia nigra cause Parkinson's disease, but nobody knows why this occurs. Certain genes seem to make these cells easier to harm, but what actually pulls the trigger? Some experts blame pesticides and other poisons, some point to viruses or oxidation damage in the brain, and some speculate that in some people the brain simply ages faster than usual.Related Questions
Parkinson's DiseaseNo one knows for sure what makes these nerve cells break down. But scientists are doing a lot of research to look for the answer. They are studying many possible causes, including aging and poisons in the environment. Abnormal genes seem to lead to Parkinson's disease in some people. But so far, there is not enough proof to show that it is always inherited.Related Questions
Is this a new type of treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD)?
Activa® DBS - : Frequently Asked QuestionsMedtronic Inc. has been providing products and therapies that alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life for over 50 years. Activa DBS was developed by Medtronic in the 1980s and was approved for use in the United States in 2002. It has been proven to reduce some of the symptoms associated with PD. It is currently included in the American Academy of Neurology Guideline Summary for Patients as a surgical treatment option for PD.
Related QuestionsWhat are the symptoms of Parkinson's disease?
Worried About Memory Loss | Frequently Asked QuestionsThe symptoms of Parkinson's disease vary between individuals and can vary from day to day in the same individual. For many people the symptoms can be quite mild and may progress little over a long period of time. The disease is progressive, however, and disability as a result of its progression will increase over time. People do not die of Parkinson's disease.
Related QuestionsIs Parkinson's disease inherited?
PDF - Parkinson's Disease Foundation, Inc. | Ask the ExpertFor the vast majority of individuals, Parkinson's disease is not thought to be an inherited disease. Even when a second person within a family is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, this is thought to be more of a coincidence than an emerging genetic pattern. This is because Parkinson's is a fairly common disorder among the older population.
Related QuestionsHow Is Parkinson's Disease Diagnosed?
Frequently Asked Questions About Parkinson's DiseaseParkinson's disease is usually diagnosed by a neurologist who can evaluate symptoms and their severity. There is no test that can clearly identify the disease. Sometimes people with suspected Parkinson's disease are given anti-Parkinson's drugs to see if they respond. Other tests, such as brain scans, can help doctors decide if a patient has true Parkinson's disease or some other disorder that resembles it.
Related QuestionsAre there environmental factors that can cause Parkinson's disease?
PDMDS.COM ::: Frequently Asked QuestionsTo date, there is no environmental factor that is found to be the cause of PD. However, in large epidemiological case control studies, certain environmental factors have been found to be associated with a higher occurrence of PD. They include : rural living, well water drinking and exposure to herbicides and pesticides and head trauma.
Related QuestionsCan anti PD medications cure Parkinson's disease?
PDMDS.COM ::: Frequently Asked QuestionsAs yet, there is no cure for PD. Anti PD drugs all have the ability to improve the motor manifestations of PD like bradykinesia, rigidity and tremor. Thereby, they improve the activities of daily living (ADL) of patients enabling them to lead near normal lives.
Related QuestionsParkinson's Disease: Am I At Risk? | AHealthyMe.comWe all lose brain cells as we age -- and most of them aren't really missed. But when the wrong cells stop doing their job, a person can become seriously ill. Certain nerve cells, for example, have the vital job of producing dopamine, a compound that relays messages between parts of the brain that tells muscles how to move smoothly. People develop Parkinson's disease when these cells -- which help control muscle movements -- stop working.Related Questions
Mental Health Statistics and Advice News: 2006-02-19Overview of the progressive disorder of the nervous system that mainly affects people over 60. Includes symptoms of the condition and related disorders such as Parkinson Syndrome.Related Questions
How is PSP different from Parkinson's disease?
Cure PSP ? F.A.Q.Both PSP and Parkinson's disease cause stiffness, slowness, and clumsiness, a combination called parkinsonism.. This is why early on, PSP may be difficult to distinguish from Parkinson's disease. However, shaking (tremor), while prominent in about two-thirds of people with Parkinson's disease, occurs in only about one in twenty people with PSP. A more common type of tremor occurring in PSP is irregular, mild and present only when the hand is in use, not at rest as in Parkinson's disease.
Related QuestionsFAQPD is a disorder of the central nervous system, involving, primarily, a degeneration of certain nerve cells in the basal ganglia region of the brain, and more particularly in the area of the brainstem called the substantia nigra. These cells produce the neurochemical messenger dopamine. Dopamine is the messenger responsible for starting a message that coordinates movement.Related Questions
Parkinson's Disease, SVCMC; New York NYParkinson's disease affects the way you move. It happens when there is a problem with certain nerve cells in the brain. Normally, these nerve cells make an important chemical called dopamine. Dopamine sends signals to the part of your brain that controls movement. It lets your muscles move smoothly and do what you want them to. When you have Parkinson’s, these nerve cells break down. Then you no longer have enough dopamine, and you have trouble moving the way you want to.Related Questions
