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What Does Parkinson's Do To The Brain?

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement. It occurs when cells in the substantia nigra part of the brain die, reducing dopamine levels and the ability to control movement smoothly. Common symptoms include tremors, stiffness, slow movement, and impaired balance and coordination. While the exact cause is unknown, it likely involves both genetic and environmental factors. There is no cure, but treatment aims to manage symptoms through medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes.

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Yana Forteza
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36 views

What Does Parkinson's Do To The Brain?

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement. It occurs when cells in the substantia nigra part of the brain die, reducing dopamine levels and the ability to control movement smoothly. Common symptoms include tremors, stiffness, slow movement, and impaired balance and coordination. While the exact cause is unknown, it likely involves both genetic and environmental factors. There is no cure, but treatment aims to manage symptoms through medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes.

Uploaded by

Yana Forteza
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Parkinson's disease is an illness that affects the part of your brain that controls how you move

your body. It can come on so slowly that you don't even notice it at first. But over time, what
starts as a little shakiness in your hand can have an impact on how you walk, talk, sleep, and
think.
You're more likely to get it when you're 60 and older. It's also possible for it to start when
you're younger, but that doesn't happen nearly as often.
There's no cure for Parkinson's disease, but you can get treatment and support to help manage
the symptoms.

What Does Parkinson's Do to the Brain?


Deep down in your brain, there's an area called the substantia nigra. Some of its cells make
dopamine, a chemical that carries messages around your brain. When you need to scratch
an itch or kick a ball, dopamine quickly carries a message to the nerve cell that controls that
movement.
When that system is working well, your body moves smoothly and evenly. But when you have
Parkinson's, the cells of your substantia nigra start to die. There's no replacing them, so your
dopamine levels drop and you can't fire off as many messages to control your body.
Early on, you won't notice anything different. But as more and more cells die, you reach a
tipping point where you start to have symptoms.
Some of the early symptoms of Parkinson’s can come before motor problems by several
years. These earliest signs include:
 decreased ability to smell (anosmia)
 constipation
 small, cramped handwriting
 voice changes
 stooped posture
The four major motor problems seen are:
 tremor (shaking that occurs at rest)
 slow movements
 stiffness of arms, legs, and trunk
 problems with balance and tendency to fall
Causes of Parkinson’s disease
The exact cause of Parkinson’s is unknown. It may have both genetic and environmental
components. Some scientists think that viruses can trigger Parkinson’s as well.
Low levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, a substance that regulates dopamine, have been
linked with Parkinson’s.
Abnormal proteins called Lewy bodies have also been found in the brains of people with
Parkinson’s. Scientists don’t know what role, if any, Lewy bodies play in the development of
Parkinson’s.
While there’s no known cause, research has identified groups of people who are more likely to
develop the condition. These include:
 Sex: Men are one and a half times more likely to get Parkinson’s than women.
 Race: Whites are more likely to get Parkinson’s than African Americans or Asians.
 Age: Parkinson’s usually appears between the ages of 50 and 60. It only occurs before
the age of 40 in 5-10 percent of cases.
 Family history: People who have close family members with Parkinson’s disease are
more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease, too.
 Toxins: Exposure to certain toxins may increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease.
 Head injury: People who experience head injuries may be more likely to develop
Parkinson’s disease.
Diagnosing Parkinson’s disease
There’s no specific test for diagnosing Parkinson’s. Diagnosis is made based on health history,
a physical and neurological exam, as well as a review of signs and symptoms.
Imaging tests, such as a CAT scan or MRI, may be used to rule out other conditions. A
dopamine transporter (DAT) scan may also be used. While these tests don’t confirm
Parkinson’s, they can help rule out other conditions and support the doctor’s diagnosis.
Treatments for Parkinson’s disease
Treatment for Parkinson’s relies on a combination of lifestyle changes, medications, and
therapies.
Adequate rest, exercise, and a balanced diet are important. Speech therapy, occupational
therapy, and physical therapy can also help to improve communication and self-care.
In almost all cases, medication will be required to help control the various physical and mental
health symptoms associated with the disease.

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