• Definition
· Parkinson’s Disease is a degenerative disorder of the brain in which dopamine-producing nerves in certain areas of the brain lose function.
· Parkinson’s Disease leads to motor nerve impairment.

• Overview
· Parkinson’s Disease afflicts almost one million individuals in the United States.
· Parkinson’s Disease affects almost 1 percent of the population over 55 years of age.
· Parkinson’s Disease usually occurs in people over 60 years of age but can start at any age between 35 and 85 years of age.

· Parkinson’s Disease is likely the result of:
Genetic predisposition such as a family history of Parkinson’s Disease
Environmental exposures such as exposure to pesticides, or consumption of well water
Head trauma

· Parkinson’s Disease may be reduced by:
Drinking coffee
Smoking cigarettes
Use of certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDS) such as Advil, Motrin, Naprosyn
Estrogen replacement in postmenopausal women

• Symptoms
Tremor which is worse at rest and with stress
Stiffness
Slow movements
Difficulty rising from a sitting position
Difficulty beginning to walk
Decline in intellectual function
Infrequent blinking
Shuffling gait with a loss of normal and automatic arm swing while walking

• Complications
Progressive deterioration in motor function
Aspiration (inhaling food or liquids into the lungs)
Falling
Freezing up (unable to move)

• Treatment
Medications that increase Dopamine levels in the brain include:
Sinemet
Stalevo
Pramipexole
Ropinirole
Rasagiline
Selegiline
Entacapone
Tolcapone
Amantadine

References
Parkinson’s disease. Lancet. 2004 May 29;363(9423):1783-93.  [PMID: 15172778]