By: Alejandro Navarro and Andrea Ors

Content Introduction What is Parkinson's disease? What causes the disease? History Main symptoms Treatment Statistics

Introduction Parkinson's disease may be one of the most baffling and complex neurological disorders. Is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. The main age of onset of symptoms is around 60 years Its cause remains a mystery but research in this area is active, with new and intriguing findings constantly being reported.

What is Parkinson's disease? -Parkinson's disease belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders. -The disease is both chronic, meaning it persist over a long period of time, and progressive, meaning its symptoms grow worse over time. -As yet, there is no way to predict or prevent the disease.

What causes the disease? Parkinson's disease happens when certain nerve cells, or neurons, in an area of the brain known as the substantia nigra die or become impaired.

Substantia nigra

History First described in 1817 by James Parkinson. In the early 1960s, researchers identified the loss of brain cells that produce dopamine.

Main symptoms -Motor Problems Tremor Rigidity Postural deformity Slowness of movement Speech and swallowing disturbances -Non-motor problems Depression, anxiety, dementia Sleep disorders (insomnia, REM disturbances) Eye and vision abnormalities (slower blink, dry eyes...)

Treatment There is no cure for Parkinson's disease. Pharmacological treatment -Levadopa Surgery -Neurosurgery Rehabilitation

< 5 years < 80 years Years lost due to Parkinson's disease

Sources se_spanish.htm#sintomas se_spanish.htm#sintomas parkinsons_disease.htm parkinsons_disease.htm htm htm