What is Parkinson's Disease?

What is Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that belongs to a group of conditions known as movement disorders. It is both chronic, meaning that it persists for an extended period of time, and progressive, meaning that its symptoms worsen over time. As nerve cells (neurons) in parts of the brain deteriorate or die, you may begin to notice problems with movement, tremors [1] , stiffnessin the limbs or trunk, or balance problems. As these symptoms become more pronounced, people may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks. If you have one or more of these symptoms, it does not necessarily mean you have Parkinson's disease, since the symptoms appear in other diseases as well.

The exact cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, although some cases run in families and may be due to specific genetic mutations. However, most cases are sporadic, which means that the disease is usually not hereditary. Parkinson's disease is thought to likely result from a combination of genetic susceptibility and exposure to one or more unknown environmental factors that trigger the disease.

Parkinson's disease is the most common form of parkinsonism , the name for a group of disorders with similar features and symptoms. Although most forms of parkinsonism do not have a known cause, there are cases where the cause is known or suspected, or where the symptoms are the result of another disorder.

There is currently no cure for Parkinson's disease, but research continues. Often medications or surgery can substantially improve motor symptoms.

For more information, see Internal Cueing for Gait Parameters in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review by Cooper et al.