Signs and Symptoms
Parkinson's disease (also known as Parkinson disease or PD) affects movement, producing motor symptoms. Non-motor symptoms, which include autonomic dysfunction, cognitive and neurobehavioral problems, and sensory and sleep difficulties, are also common but much more under appreciated.
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Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that often impairs the sufferer's motor skills, speech, and other functions. Most people with Parkinson's disease are described as having idiopathic Parkinson's disease (having no specific cause). There are far less common causes of Parkinson's disease including genetic, toxins, head trauma, cerebral anoxia, and drug-induced Parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's disease belongs to a group of conditions called movement disorders. It is characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement (bradykinesia) and, in extreme cases, a loss of physical movement (akinesia). The primary symptoms are the
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results of decreased stimulation of the motor cortex by the basal ganglia, normally caused by the insufficient formation and action of dopamine, which is produced in the dopaminergic neurons of the brain. Secondary symptoms may include high level cognitive dysfunction and subtle language problems. PD is both chronic and progressive.
PD is the most common cause of chronic progressive parkinsonism, a term which refers to the syndrome of tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia and postural instability. PD is also called "primary parkinsonism" or "idiopathic PD" (classically meaning having no known cause although this term is not strictly true in light of the plethora of newly discovered genetic mutations). While many forms of parkinsonism are "idiopathic", "secondary" cases may result from toxicity most notably of drugs, head trauma, or other medical disorders. The disease is named after English apothecary James Parkinson, who made a detailed description of the disease in his essay: "An Essay on the Shaking Palsy" (1817)
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Research and Support Organizations
In 1957, William Black, President of Chock full o'Nuts coffee company, founded the Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF) after one of his company's employees was diagnosed with Parkinson's. Black launched the organization with a $250,000 grant to support Parkinson's Research. While at first a regional organization, PDF expanded the scope of its activities throughout the U.S., and merged with the United Parkinson Foundation in 1999. Today, PDF focuses on funding research to learn the causes of and find a cure for Parkinson's, as well providing education and support for people with Parkinson's in the U.S. Since it was founded in 1957, PDF has provided more than $80 million to research.
PDF also leads PDtrials, a collaborative initiative of Parkinson’s organizations dedicated to increasing education and awareness about clinical research. Central to this initiative is the www.pdtrials.org website that provides information and education about Parkinson's clinical research, and provides a portal for people with Parkinson's to search for specific clinical trials using criteria such as location, trial type, and symptom.
Another famous sufferer of young-onset Parkinson's is Michael J. Fox, whose book, Lucky Man (2000), focused on his experiences with the disease and his career and family travails in the midst of it. Fox established The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research to develop a cure for Parkinson's disease within this decade.
Another foundation that supports Parkinson's research was established by Davis Phinney, a notable figure in the cycling world. Phinney has competed in the Olympics, Pan-Am Games and has competed as a pro-cyclist for nearly twenty years. The Davis Phinney Foundation strives to improve the lives of those living with Parkinson's disease.
Notable Sufferers
In addition to Fox and Phinney, other famous sufferers include Pope John Paul II, playwright Eugene O'Neill, artist Salvador Dalí, boxer Muhammad Ali, evangelist Billy Graham and former US Attorney General Janet Reno. Political figures suffering from it have included Adolf Hitler, Francisco Franco, Deng Xiaoping and Mao Zedong, and former Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau. Numerous actors have also been afflicted with Parkinson's such as: Terry-Thomas, Deborah Kerr, Kenneth More, Vincent Price, Jim Backus and Michael Redgrave. Helen Beardsley (of Yours, Mine and Ours fame) also suffered from this disease toward the end of her life. James Doohan also suffered from Parkinson's Disease, and later, Alzheimer's Disease. Director George Roy Hill (The Sting, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) also suffered from Parkinson's disease.
The film Awakenings (starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro and based on genuine cases reported by Oliver Sacks) deals sensitively and largely accurately with a similar disease, postencephalitic parkinsonism.
Michael Gibson (TV presenter), host of MTV Select, was diagnosed with Parkinson's at the age of 18. Gibson lived in denial about his condition for six years. He then pitched a documentary proposal to Channel 4 who commissioned him to make a documentary following Michael's journey with Parkinson's. All shook up: Parkinson's at 25 aired on Channel 4 in 2006.
In addition, former Arsenal and Liverpool FC footballer Ray Kennedy, who won every domestic English honour as well as the European Cup and UEFA Cup, is a sufferer of the disease, having been diagnosed at 35.
External Links
Home > Parkinson's Care 
Calming Relief of a Parkinson Caregiver
Famous People with Parkinson’s Disease
Basic Health Monitoring