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Neurological Function of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurological disorder which most commonly affects people who are at least 50 years old. Parkinson's disease is caused by a lack of dopamine production in the brain. PD is a progressive disease.

  1. Dopamine

    • Your nerve cells use dopamine, a product of brain cells, to control body movement. With Parkinson's disease the brain does not produce enough dopamine, leading to neurological functioning problems.

    Symptoms

    • Common symptoms of PD are muscle tremors, muscle tightness, slow movement, and poor balance. Muscle tremors can appear in arms, legs, hands, and the face.

    Diagnosis

    • Symptoms of Parkinson's disease can be detected through a physical examination. However, early detection of PD may be difficult because symptoms first appear subtly.

    Treatment

    • Prescription drugs, like levodopa, are used for treating PD. These drugs help stimulate the production of dopamine.

    PD in Children

    • Parkinson's disease in children is rare and is caused more by sensitive nerves, rather than difficulty producing dopamine.

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