2.  Parkinson Disease (PD) is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system that often impairs the sufferer's motor skills, speech, and other functions.

3.  The cause of Parkinson Disease remains unknown.  Many experts think that the disease is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.  Scientists have identified aging as an important cause.

4.  About 15 to 25 percent of people with Parkinson’s report having a relative with the disease.  Researchers have discovered several gene mutations that can cause the disease directly, but these affect only a small number of families.

5.  Some scientists have suggested that Parkinson disease may result from exposure to an environmental toxin or injury.  Researchers have identified several factors that may be linked to Parkinson’s.  rural living  well water  manganese  Pesticides

6.  A substance called dopamine acts as a messenger between two brain areas, the substantia nigra and the corpus striatum to produce smooth, controlled movements.  When the amount of dopamine is too low, communication between the substantia nigra and corpus striatum becomes ineffective, and movement becomes impaired.  The greater the loss of dopamine, the worse the movement-related symptoms

8.  Parkinson Disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder.  It is also the most common movement disorder.  In the United States, about 1 million people are affected by Parkinson Disease and about 5 million worldwide.

9. Primary symptoms include: tremor stiffness slowness impaired balance shuffling

10.  Effects the present areas

11.  Anxiety, insecurity, and stress  Confusion and memory loss  Constipation  Depression  Difficulty swallowing and excessive salivation  Increased sweating  Skin problems  Slowed, quieter speech, and monotone voice  Urinary frequency/urgency

12.  Most people who develop Parkinson's disease are older than 60 years of age.  Men are affected about 1.5 to 2 times more often than women.  People who have a family history of the disorder.  People who have been exposed to environmental toxins such as pesticides and herbicide.

14.  For some individuals with unmanageable motor symptoms, surgery may be an option.  In deep brain stimulation(DBS), the surgeon implants electrodes to stimulate areas of the brain involved in movement.  In another type of surgery, specific areas in the brain that cause Parkinson symptoms are destroyed.  An alternative approach currently being explored is the use of dopamine-producing cells derived from stem cells.

15.  There are many medications available to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s, although none yet that actually reverse the effects of the disease.  It is common for people with PD to take a variety of these medications all at different doses and at different times of day in order to manage the symptoms of the disease.

16.  General lifestyle changes (rest and exercise), physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy may be beneficial.

18.  The severity of Parkinson Disease symptoms vary greatly from individual to individual and it is not possible to predict how quickly the disorder will progress.  Parkinson Disease is not a fatal disease and the average life expectancy is similar to that of people without the disease.

19.  Actor Michael J. Fox has PD.  Fox was diagnosed in 1991 when he was 30, but kept his condition secret from the public for seven years.

20.  Muhammad Ali has shown signs of parkinsonism since the age of 38.

21. 1. How many people are affected by Parkinson Disease in the United States? One million 2. About how old is a person who develops Parkinson Disease? 60 years of age 3. Give an example of a primary symptom for Parkinson Disease? tremor, stiffness, slowness, impaired balance, shuffling

22.  http://www.medicinenet.com/parkinsons_disease/article.htm http://www.medicinenet.com/parkinsons_disease/article.htm  http://www.umm.edu/parkinsons/facts.htm?gclid=CJO2msCr868CFYZx Ogody0m7XA http://www.umm.edu/parkinsons/facts.htm?gclid=CJO2msCr868CFYZx Ogody0m7XA  http://www.azilect.com/Consumer/About-Parkinson-s- Disease/Parkinson-s-Symptoms.aspx?s_mcid=google-ppc- &s_kwcid=TC|6774|parkinsons%20disease%20symptoms||S||6492865475 &gclid=CJGPtMWr868CFYeo4AodehfvXA http://www.azilect.com/Consumer/About-Parkinson-s- Disease/Parkinson-s-Symptoms.aspx?s_mcid=google-ppc- &s_kwcid=TC|6774|parkinsons%20disease%20symptoms||S||6492865475 &gclid=CJGPtMWr868CFYeo4AodehfvXA  http://www.pdf.org/en/about_pd http://www.pdf.org/en/about_pd