What is Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic (persistent) disorder of part of the brain. It is named after the doctor who first described it. It mainly affects the way the brain co-ordinates the movements of the muscles in various parts of the body.
Who gets Parkinson's disease?
PD mainly develops in people over the age of 50. It becomes more common with increasing age. About 5 in 1000 people in their 60s, and about 20 in 1000 people in their 80s have PD. It affects both men and women. Rarely, it develops in people under the age of 50. PD is not usually inherited, and it can affect anyone. However, genetic (hereditary) factors may be important in the small number of people who develop the disease before the age of 50.
What causes Parkinson's disease?
A small part of the brain called the substantia nigra is mainly affected. This area of the brain sends messages down nerves in the spinal cord to help control the muscles of the body. Messages are passed between brain cells, nerves, and muscles by chemicals called neurotransmitters. Dopamine is the main neurotransmitter that is made by the brain cells in the substantia nigra.
If you have PD, a number of cells in the substantia nigra become damaged and die. The cause of this is not known. Over time, more and more cells become damaged and die. As cells are damaged, the amount of dopamine is also reduced. A combination of the reduction of cells and a low level of dopamine in the cells in this part of the brain causes nerve messages to the muscles to become slowed and abnormal.
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