Paper Contents
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease affectingolder Americans, and its prevalence is expected to increase as the American population ages.Idiopathic Parkinson's disease results from the pathophysiological loss or degeneration ofdopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra region of the brain's midbrain and thedevelopment of neural Lewy bodies and is associated with risk factors such as aging, familyhistory, pesticides, and environmental chemicals (e.g., synthetic heroin use). Its exact originis not yet known. Individuals with Parkinson's disease present with motor and nonmotorsymptoms, most commonly characterized by resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, andstooped posture. PD may also be associated with neurological disorders (depression,anxiety), cognitive impairment (dementia), and functional impairment (e.g., orthostatichypotension and hyperhidrosis). In recent years, we have seen an increase in new medical and surgical treatments, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS). However, definitive treatmentoptions are still lacking. Clinical trials have been designed and tested, but the results havebeen limited. Understanding strategies to improve the quality of life for people withParkinson's disease is important for caregivers, physicians, and patients themselves.
Copyright
Copyright © 2025 Nikhil Antim Gaikwad . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
