BY: ASHLEY & KENDRA

Parkinson Disease

What is it?

Parkinson Disease (PD) is a disorder of the brain that causes a variety of movement problems.

Causes

The causes of Parkinson Disease remains unknown.

Many experts think that the disease is caused by a

combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Scientists have identified aging as an important cause.

Genetic Factors

About 15 to 25 percent of people with Parkinsons report having a

relative with the disease.

Researchers have discovered several gene mutations that can cause the disease directly, but

these affect only a small number of families.

Environmental Factors

Some scientists have suggested that Parkinson's disease may result from exposure to an environmental toxin or injury.

Researchers have identified several factors that may be linked to Parkinson’s.

rural living well water manganese pesticides

Some studies have demonstrated that prolonged occupational exposure to certain chemicals can be a trigger as well.

Dopamine

A substance called dopamine acts as a messenger between two brain areas, the

substantia nigra and the corpus striatum to produce smooth, controlled movements.

When the amount of dopamine is too low, communication between the substantia nigra and corpus striatum becomes ineffective, and

movement becomes impaired.

The greater the loss of dopamine, the worse the movement-related symptoms

The Brain

FactsParkinson's disease is the

second most common neurodegenerative disorder.

The most common movement disorder.

In the United States, about 1 million people are affected by

Parkinson's disease and worldwide about 5 million.

Common Symptoms

•Primary symptoms include:• tremor, • stiffness, • slowness, • impaired

balance• shuffling

Picture

Effects the present areas

Secondary Symptoms

Anxiety, insecurity, and stress

Confusion and memory loss

Constipation

Depression

Difficulty swallowing and excessive salivation

Increased sweating

Skin problem

Slowed, quieter speech, and monotone voice

Urinary frequency/urgency

At Risk

Most people who develop Parkinson's disease are older than 60 years of age.

Men are affected about 1.5 to 2 times more often than women.

People who have a family history of the disorder.

Exposure to environmental toxins such as pesticides and herbicides may be a risk factor.

Treatment

There is currently NO treatment to

cure Parkinson's disease.

Treatment

For some individuals with unmanageable motor symptoms, surgery may be an

option. In deep brain stimulation(DBS), the

surgeon implants electrodes to stimulate areas of the brain involved in movement.

In another type of surgery, specific areas in the brain that cause Parkinson's

symptoms are destroyed. An alternative approach currently being

explored is the use of dopamine-producing cells derived from stem cells.

Treatment

General lifestyle changes (rest and exercise), physical

therapy, occupational therapy, and speech

therapy may be beneficial.

Prevention

Parkinson’s Disease is

NOT preventable.

Prevention

The severity of Parkinson's disease symptoms vary greatly from individual to individual and it is not possible to predict how quickly the disorder will progress.

Parkinson's disease is not a fatal disease, and the average life expectancy is similar to that of people without the disease.

Bibliography

http://www.medicinenet.com/parkinsons_disease/article.htm

http://www.umm.edu/parkinsons/facts.htm?gclid=CJO2msCr868CFYZxOgody0m7XA

http://www.azilect.com/Consumer/About-Parkinson-s-Disease/Parkinson-s-Symptoms.aspx?s_mcid=google-ppc-&s_kwcid=TC|6774|parkinsons%20disease%20symptoms||S||6492865475&gclid=CJGPtMWr868CFYeo4AodehfvXA

http://www.pdf.org/en/about_pd