Parkinson's disease, or PD as it is sometimes referred to, is a progressive, neurological condition. It is predominantly characterised by problems with body movements, known as ‘motor symptoms ’ – the most identifiable, perhaps, being tremor. Other difficulties that are not related to movement can also occur, such as pain, sleep disturbance and depression - these are known as ‘non-motor symptoms’.
According to the Global Declaration for Parkinson’s Disease, 6.3 million people have Parkinson's worldwide, affecting all races and cultures. The age of onset is usually over 60 years, but it is estimated that one in ten people are diagnosed before the age of 50, with slightly more men than women affected.
Parkinson’s is life-altering, but it is not life-threatening.
Parkinson's disease was named after James Parkinson, the London doctor who first reported the symptoms in 1817, calling it the 'shaking palsy'. It was his pioneering work in identifying and describing the disease that brought it to the attention of the medical profession.
Our movements are controlled by nerve cells in the brain. To prompt a movement, the cells pass messages to one another - and to the rest of the body - using neurotransmitters. In healthy people, these messages are carried efficiently. But, in people with Parkinson’s, the messages are disrupted and are not transmitted smoothly to the muscles. This is when difficulties controlling movement arise.
The messages fail to transmit properly because of a lack of dopamine - one of the neurotransmitters involved in the control of movement. In people with Parkinson’s, between 70 and 80% of the cells which produce dopamine have degenerated and been lost. This occurs mainly in a small section of the brain called the substantia nigra. If there is insufficient dopamine, nerve cells do not function properly and are unable to pass on the brain messages, resulting in Parkinson’s symptoms.
While dopamine is the main neurotransmitter affected, other neurotransmitter abnormalities also occur in Parkinson's. This is one explanation why simply replacing dopamine does not necessarily result in the benefits expected. The abnormalities in other neurotransmitters may also explain why so many non-motor symptoms are present in Parkinson’s.
Why dopamine-producing cells become depleted is not clear. It is generally thought that multiple factors are responsible and areas of current research include ageing, genetic factors, environmental factors and viruses. It is also unclear why some people develop Parkinson's but not others.
World Parkinson's Disease Day is celebrated on 11 April in commemoration of Dr. James Parkinson's birthday (1755 - 1824). The tulip has been adopted as a logo by many Parkinson's organisations around the world including the European Parkinson’s Disease Association (EPDA). In 1995, the Working Group on Parkinson's Disease (formed by the World Health Organisation in 1997) supported the consensus that the EPDA logo be used as the Worldwide Symbol of Parkinson's Disease. Wearing the red tulip raises awareness and shows support for people living with Parkinson's and their families globally.
Rhythmic shaking of part of the body. It is one of the main symptoms of Parkinson's disease, although it is not experienced by everyone.
A mental state of melancholia, unhappiness or sadness characterized by decreased energy, reduced interest in sex, suppressed appetite, too much sleep or sleep disturbance, a pessimistic sense of inadequacy, a despondent lack of activity, despair, and discouragement.
Chemicals, such as dopamine and acetylcholine, which are made in the brain and send messages between different nerve cells.
A neurotransmitter produced in the substantia nigra, which forms part of the basal gangia in the brain. It sends messages from the brain to other parts of the body and has a major role in the control of movement. There is a shortage of dopamine in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease.
Those affecting movement, e.g. tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia and freezing.
The area of the brain within the basal ganglia where dopamine is produced.
