Parkinson’s Disease

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease affects the nerve cells that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter nerve cells use to signal one another. Insufficient dopamine leads to muscle rigidity, tremors and changes in speech and gait that increase as the disease progresses.

With progression of Parkinson’s disease, dementia can develop. Roughly 75–80% of people living with Parkinson’s disease for 10 or more years develop dementia.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

In Parkinson’s disease, early motor symptoms include a unilateral resting “pill rolling” type of tremor of the hand, slow movement, rigidity and difficulty with fine motor tasks. Later signs include slowed voluntary movement, diminished facial expression, a quiet voice, a shuffling “Parkinson’s gait” with stooped posture, poor balance, and swallowing and digestive problems in later stages.

If one develops dementia more than 1 year after the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, it is considered Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD). Cognitive symptoms of PDD are typically executive dysfunction, slow thinking, visuospatial impairment and attention deficits with fluctuations.

Parkinson’s disease treatment and management

While there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, there are a number of medications that can relieve symptoms. Most pharmaceutical treatments for Parkinson’s work to increase and stabilize dopamine in the brain. Physical exercise and regular activity are also a vital component of treatment, as are physical, speech and occupational therapies.

In Parkinson’s disease dementia, treatment focuses on improving thinking, preventing psychosis and maintaining function.

Who it affects

Parkinson’s disease is far more common after age 50, though it can affect younger people. Men are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than women.