parkinsons

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“Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the brain that leads to tremors, difficulty walking and coordinating.” (1). The disease occurs when nerve cells in the brain are destroyed and slow the making of dopamine; without dopamine the brain can not relay messaged to the rest of the body as well. This is why the tremors begin and the lack of coordination and movement arises since the brain can not tell the body what to do properly. There are no exact causes of the disease; it is considered a multifactorial trait. A multifactorial trait “can be determined by two or several factors; often multiple genes interacting with each other or with the environment” (5). It is also thought that some medications, both prescribed and street, can cause the symptoms of P.D. These symptoms include slower automatic movements such as blinking, difficulty walking, swallowing, and coordinating; as well as the visible tremors and muscle pain. Those tested, more commonly in the elderly, find it difficult to finish movements and are somewhat jerky in the movements tested. There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease. Doctors and therapists try to control the symptoms with medication, but they also advise exercise which releases dopamine to counteract some effects. In some serious cases surgery is used to destroy brain tissues that cause the disease, but that is only in rare occasions. Along with all the physical issues that come along with this disorder, mental problems also occur. According to one doctor “at least 40% of P.D. patients suffer from a major bout with depression.” (2) Mostly, though, patient’s depression come in short spurts and does not stay long for the most part. The physical impairments are seen right away and are the “defining characteristics”...

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...d, Mood, and Behavior” princetonwellbeing.com. 25 July 2000. 1 April 2014
(4) Findley, Leslie. “The Economic Impact of Parkinson’s Disease” elsevier.com 2007. 1 April 2014.
(5) Rosenberg, Leon E. Human Genes and Genomes. New York: Elsevier, 2012. Print. 4 April 2014.
(6) "Understanding Parkinsons." Parkinson Disease Foundation. N.p., 2014. Web. 6 Apr. 2014. .
(7) Gwinn, Katrina. "Genetics and Parkinson's Disease: What Have We Learned?"
Parkinson's Disease Foundation. N.p., 2009. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.
.
(8) Tanner, Caroline M. "Environmental Factors and Parkinson's: What Have We
Learned?" Parkinson's Disease Foundation. N.p., 2011. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.
.
(9) OMIM. Johns Hopkins University, 2014. Web. 9 Apr. 2014.
.

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