What Is Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson's disease was first founded by an English doctor, James Parkinson, in 1817. Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the central nervous system that results from the lack or loss of cells in various parts of the brain, the main region is called the substantia nigra. The substantia nigra cells produce dopamine, a chemical messenger responsible for sending signals within the brain that allow for coordination of movement. The lack of dopamine causes neurons to fire irregularly and out of control, leaving people to not be able to control their movement. The exact cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, although research shows signs towards a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Parkinson’s Disease is a continuing and constant
In some cases tremors are just on one side of the body. Sleep and complete relaxation usually reduce or stop the tremor. Although tremoring is one of the most common signs of Parkinson's, not everyone with tremors has Parkinson's. Rigidity causes stiffness and inflexibility of the limbs, neck and body. Muscles normally stretch when they move, and then relax when they are at rest. In Parkinson’s rigidity, the muscle tone of an affected limb is always tense and does not relax, sometimes contributing to a decreased range of motion. People with Parkinson’s most frequently experience binding of the neck, shoulder and legs. A person with rigidity and bradykinesia within Parkinson’s tends to not swing his or her arms when walking.
Bradykinesia is a defining feature of Parkinson’s disease. When having Parkinson’s you show a lack of quick or spontaneous movement, abnormal stillness and a decrease in facial expressions. Due to bradykinesia, a person with Parkinson’s may have trouble performing ordinary activities, such as buttoning a shirt, cutting food or brushing their teeth. People who encounter bradykinesia may walk with short small steps. The cutback in movement and the limited range of moving caused by bradykinesia can affect a person’s speech, which may make the person become quieter as Parkinson’s
The majority of Parkinson's cases are not directly inherited. About fifteen to twenty-five percent of people with Parkinson’s said that they have a relative with the disease. In large studies, researchers have found that people with an affected relative, such as a parent or sibling, have a four to nine percent higher risk of generating Parkinson’s, as compared to the regular population. This means that if a person’s parent has Parkinson's, the person’s chances of acquiring the disease are higher than the risk among the general population (Michael J. Fox Foundation)
Many big name celebrities like Michael J. Fox, Muhammad Ali, Robin Williams, and Johnny Cash all suffer or suffered from Parkinson's disease. Almost sixty thousand Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease each year, and this number does not show the thousands of cases that go undetected. More than 10 million people around the world are living with Parkinson's disease. Parkinson’s increases with age, but an estimated four percent of people with the disease are diagnosed before the age of 50. Men are one and a half times more likely to have Parkinson's than