By Katelyn Chaimson and Sean Guyot Parkinson’s Disease By Katelyn Chaimson and Sean Guyot

Origin First described as “shaking palsy” by physician Galen in AD 175 Later named after London Dr. James Parkinson in 1817 after his study of the disease

What is Parkinson’s Disease? Neurological Disease that affects neurons in the brain causing the body to tremble and movement to be impaired Affects over 1,000,000 Americans today One and a half times more likely to affect men Commonly occurs after age 60 or older Second most common neurodegenerative disorder Affects every 13 in 100,000 people/60,000 new diagnosis per year

Types Adult-onset Parkinson's disease is most common Early-onset Parkinson's disease (onset between 21-40 years) Juvenile-onset Parkinson's disease (onset before age 21) rarest

Causes No one cause Environmental Exposures Nerve cells in substantia nigra become impaired or die These cells produce dopamine which produces smooth physical movements Genetic/Hereditary Caused by mutations in the LRRK2, PARK2, PARK7, PINK1, or SNCA gene(familial) Alterations to GBA and UCHL1 genes heighten risk of development

Symptoms Depression Dementia(memory loss) Tremors Shaking that begins most often in the hands/fingers Slowed Movement(bradykinesia) Steps become shorter Rigid Muscles Muscles become stiff Impaired Posture/Balance Posture becomes slouched Loss of Natural Movements Decreased ability to perform unconscious movements Abnormal Speech/Writing Speech becomes slurred and writing becomes smaller/more difficult

Treatment No cure PT Levodopa MAO-B inhibitors Treatments suppress harsher symptoms PT Increase movement prevents arthritis Levodopa Best medication for PD patients Combined with Carbidopa to reduce side-effects and form Sinemet Increases dopamine MAO-B inhibitors Blocks enzyme that breaks down Levadopa

Prognosis Life expectancy is generally the same as general population Both Chronic(persists over time) and Progressive(symptoms worsen over time) Symptoms differ from person to person Not directly fatal Can cause Pneumonia or Fatal Falls

Research The Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson’s Research Fox Trial Finder-online database that PD patients can access to find out info on what studies they can be a part of PPMI-Parkinson’s Progression Marker Initiative; clinical study to discover the biomarkers of PD Parkinson’s Disease Foundation founded in 1957, PDF has supported $100 million in research goal of finding causes, advancing therapies and ending Parkinson's Connection between ulcers and PD

Works Cited “Disease and Conditions: Parkinson’s Disease.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2014. Web. 10 May 2014. “NINDS Parkinson’s Disease Information Page.” National Institute of Neurological Disorders And Stroke. NIH, 1 May 2014. Web. 10 May 2014. “Parkinson’s Disease Prognosis.” The Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson’s Research. The Michael J. Fox Foundation, 2014. Web. 9 May 2014. “Parkinson’s Disease.” MedicineNet.com. MedicineNet Inc, 4 Dec 2013. Web. 10 May 2014. “Understanding Parkinson’s.” Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. Parkinson’s Disease Foundation Inc, 2014. Web. 10 May 2014.