The Neglected Side of Parkinson's Disease

[Guest guest]

The Neglected Side of Parkinson's Disease

(Source: RedOrbit) - Shaking and slowness of movement may be the most

obvious Parkinson's symptoms, but they are not the most debilitating

ones.

Parkinson's disease is more common than most people think.

Approximately 1,000,000 Americans suffer from the illness, with

60,000 new cases appearing each year.

This progressive and incurable neurodegenerative disorder usually

begins around age 60, and is expected to grow as America's aging

population grows. And it can also strike younger people - J.

Fox was diagnosed at age 30 and Muhammad Ali at age 42.

Classic symptoms include shaking, slowness of movement and problems

with balance resulting from the loss of dapaminergic nerve cells. The

recognition of a dopamine deficiency in the brains of patients with

Parkinson's disease was one of the greatest success stories of modern

medicine.

However, not all symptoms respond to this treatment, including sleep

disorders, dementia and difficulty walking. Recognizing these early

warning signs might allow doctors to treat patients preemptively.

To read and learn more about Parkinson's disease go to the full

story:

http://tinyurl.com/5dfo7q