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PARKINSONS
Parkinson's disease belongs to a
group of conditions called motor system disorders. Parkinsons
disease and related disorders are the result of the loss of
dopamine-producing brain cells. Dopamine is a chemical messenger
responsible for transmitting signals within the brain.
Parkinson's disease occurs when certain nerve cells, or neurons,
die or become impaired. Normally, these neurons produce
dopamine. Loss of dopamine causes the nerve cells to fire out of
control, leaving patients unable to direct or control their
movement in a normal manner.
The four primary symptoms of Parkinsons are tremor or trembling
in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity or stiffness of
the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia, or slowness of movement; and
postural instability or impaired balance and coordination.
Parkinsons disease patients may also have difficulty walking,
talking, or completing other simple tasks. The disease is both
chronic and progressive. Parkinsons is not usually inherited.
Early symptoms are subtle and occur gradually, but a variety of
Parkinson's treatments are available to help.
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