Putting It All Together

Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to Parkinson's disease.

• Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a slowly progressive condition resulting from a deficiency in the brain of a chemical called dopamine. This deficiency interrupts messages from the brain to the muscles.

• Parkinson’s disease produces shaking of the body and limbs, slowness and difficulty beginning a voluntary movement, muscle stiffness and difficulty with maintaining balance.

• The exact cause of Parkinson’s disease is unknown. The condition is known to occur in some families, but not all PD is inherited.

• The four major signs of PD are tremor, rigidity, slowness of movement, and impaired balance. Some people also will experience a changed facial expression, a soft voice, cramped handwriting, pain, fatigue, depression, and constipation.

• Parkinson’s disease may be treated with medication or surgery.

• Medication for PD aims to replace or mimic the missing chemical dopamine in the brain.

• Surgery for PD aims to destroy small portions of brain tissue or disable nerve cells.

• Eating nutritious foods, getting enough exercise, managing stress, and remaining active are keys to living with Parkinson’s disease.

• Great progress has been made in understanding and treating Parkinson’s disease, and research continues to uncover new clues about this condition.