Parkinson's Disease

This is a disorder that affects the central nervous system which consists of the brain and spinal cord. It results in symptoms such as uncontrollable tremors, slow shuffling movements, slurred speech, and cognitive impairment. Individuals with Parkinson's rarely die from the disease itself. Instead, they die from complications resulting from the disease e.g. stroke. At this point in time, there is no cure for Parkinson's disease.

There are medications and treatments that can help control symptoms. Since Parkinson's results from damage to cells that release dopamine (a chemical messenger in the brain that controls coordination in motion), treatments attempt to replace the lost dopamine. There are also some surgical procedures that are helpful in managing or suppressing symptoms. Unfortunately, none of these treatments stop the progression of the disease.