1. ‘’Parkinson’s disease’’
Written and presented by Layla Dominique Burton, third hour
Parkinson’s disease affects your brain and mobility.

2. ‘’A Brief History of Parkinson’s Disease’’
The first medical description of Parkinson’s disease was written in 1817 by a guy named James Parkinson. Though some fragments of Parkinson’s disease can be found in earlier descriptions. Treatments of this disease were based on empirical observation and anticholinergic drugs. These were used as early as the 19th century. Further studies identified additional treatments for Parkinson's disease and allow modern doctors to offer an array of therapies aimed at improving function in this still incurable disease. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects your movement and mobility gradually. This disease may start off with just a slight barely noticeable tremor in only one hand. Tremors are very common as well as stiffness or slowing of movement in people with this disease. Your face may start to show little to no expression or maybe your arms won’t swing when you walk. Your speech could also become soft and slurred. These symptoms will worsen as your condition progresses over time. The saddest part about all of this is that it can not be cured ,although medication might significantly improve your symptoms ultimately it is incurable. Your doctor might also suggest surgery to regulate certain parts of your brain and greatly improve your symptoms.
The first medical description of Parkinson’s disease.
An MRI scan of a person with Parkinson’s Disease.

3. ‘’People Most Effected by Parkinson’s Disease’’
The risk of Parkinson’s disease is believed to greatly increase as you get older and is most commonly found among the elderly, although an estimated 4% of people with Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed before the age of 50. Men are more likely to have Parkinson’s disease, in fact about 1.5 times more likely than women!
There are an estimated 5-10 million people living with P.D. world wide, and about one million of those are Americans. That is an estimated 60,000 people diagnosed with P.D. every year!
The group most effected by Parkinson’s disease are elderly men over the age of 50.

4. ‘’Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease’’
Symptoms of this truly terrible disease include:
Tremors or shaking: usually starts in one limb most commonly your hands or fingers.
Slowed movement: This symptom happens gradually over time and can make even the simplest tasks seem impossible.
Rigid muscles: This symptom can occur in any part of your body which can be pretty painful and also limit your range of motion.
Impaired posture and balance: You may start to slouch or start to have balancing issues as a result of Parkinson’s disease.
Loss of automatic movements: you may start to have a decreased ability to perform simple tasks like blinking, smiling, or moving your arms while you walk.
Speech changes: you may start to speak softly, quicker, slur your speech or hesitate before you talk.
Penmanship changes: this could include it becoming harder to write or your writing may start to appear smaller.
Some symptoms you may experience if you have Parkinson’s disease.

5. ‘’The Effects of Parkinson’s Disease’’
Parkinson’s disease affects the nervous system. The nervous system is the control center of your body. It is made up of your brain, spinal cord, and your nerves. This body system is responsible for sending and receiving stimuli as well as transmitting impulses to your organs. Parkinson’s disease affects the nerve cells in deep parts of your brain. These parts are called basil ganglia and substantia nigra. The nerve cells in the substantia nigra produce a substance called dopamine (a neuro transmitter). It is responsible for relaying messages that plan and control body movement. For some reason that is not yet understood these nerve cells of the substantia nigra begin to die in some individuals. When 80% of dopamine is lost symptoms of P.D. can occur. Some of these symptoms might include tremors, slowness of movement, stiffness, and balance problems. Basil ganglia and the cerebellum are responsible for making sure your movements are carried out in a smooth and fluid manner. When dopamine receptors are not adequately stimulated parts of the basil ganglia become either over or under simulated. When it is over simulated it can cause a tremor, but when it is under stimulated it can cause shut down of motion and rigidity.
Parkinson’s disease affects the basil ganglia, substantia nigra, and the cerebellum.

6. ‘’ The Causes of Parkinson’s Disease’’
Parkinson’s disease is caused by a combination of two different things genetics, and your environment. In the past few years researchers have discovered a number of rare instances where it seems Parkinson’s disease was caused by a single genetic mutation. In this instance the mutated gene is passed from generation to generation. Mutations in the LRRK2 are one of the greatest contributors of Parkinson’s disease discovered to date. In another instance though a group of people in California took drugs that had been contaminated by a substance called MPTP. After ingesting this drug the users had been afflicted by a form of Parkinson’s disease. If not exclusively with an environmental origin.
For most Parkinson’s disease patient the answer lies somewhere in between. While some P.D. patients have reported a family member or two with the disease it is not always clear that one or a couple of genes are the cause. Other patients expect exposure to a chemical or environmental toxin has caused their Parkinson’s disease, but many experts believe that the majority cause of P.D. is a mix of both environmental and genetic factors. Unfortunately it is almost Impossible to find the direct link to a patients P.D. and we may never actually know the true cause.
A picture of MPTP (a neurotoxin).

7. ‘’Treatments of Parkinson’s disease’’
Though Parkinson’s disease is incurable some treatments have the potential to greatly improve your symptoms. Some of these treatment options include:
Carbidopa-levodopa: the most effective prescription given to P.D. patients.
Life style changes: a healthy diet or maybe more exercise.
Physical therapy: focuses on stretching and balance that you may lose as your P.D. progresses.
Speech therapy: improves stuttering and slow speaking.
Levodopa is combined with carbidopa (Lodosyn): can lessen symptoms such as nausea.
Dopamine agonists: mimics the effect of dopamine.
Catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors: this medication blocks an enzyme that breaks down dopamine.
Amantadine: can provide a short term relief of symptoms with patients in early stages of P.D.
Anticholinergics: help control the tremor associated with P.D.
Deep brain stimulation: Surgeons implant electrodes into a specific part of the brain this can help reduce symptoms by using a sort of shock therapy.
The type of electrode used during deep brain stimulation

8. ‘’Prevention of Parkinson’s disease’’
There is no proven prevention of this disease, although some studies have shown that aerobics might reduce the Risk of Parkinson’s disease as well as eating organically, consuming lots of veggies, incorporating lots of omega 3 fatty acids into your diet, vitamin D3, green tea, and CoQ10 (a coenzyme that your cells use to produce energy). All of these might significantly lower your chances of getting P.D. as you get older and begin to age.
Green tea can help to prevent P.D.

9. ‘’Every Day Effects of P.D.’’
About one million American people live with Parkinson’s disease, further more about 60,000 cases are diagnosed each year in the U.S. It is estimated that there are anywhere from 5-10 million cases world wide that have P.D. That is an astonishing amount of people! People with P.D. have to deal with many hurdles in their life one being social interaction. This is because many people don’t realize that apathy and fatigue are common symptoms of P.D. Parkinson’s disease can also affect communication. Your voice might be unclear or you might stutter and that can be really frustrating some times. Another difficult task during every day life with Parkinson’s disease is motor function. Some times even the simplest tasks can pose impossible adding to the anger and frustration you already had making your day even worse.
One way to improve your quality of life and make you happier with P.D. is to exercise regularly.

10. ‘’Resources’’
“The history of Parkinson's disease: early clinical descriptions and neurological therapies” Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine vol. 1,1 (2011): a Provided a history on Parkinson’s disease.
HONcode. “Parkinson's Disease.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 30 June 2018, a brief description of Parkinson's disease
“Statistics on Parkinson's Disease.” Edited by Parkinson Association of the Carolinas, Parkinson Association of the Carolinas, 2013, information on people most effected by Parkinson's disease.
Mayfield Brain & Spine. “Parkinson's Disease (PD).” Posture & Body Mechanics, Mayfield Brain & Spine, Apr. 2018, information on how P.D. affects your nervous system.
“Parkinson's Disease Causes.” Edited by CFC, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research | Parkinson's Disease, information on the causes of P.D.
“7 Scientifically Backed Ways to Prevent Parkinson's Disease.” Edited by Judson services, Judson Senior Living, 19 Oct. 2016, information on ways to prevent P.D.
Ryerson, Nancy. “Parkinson's and Your Social Life: Advice from Our Community.” The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research | Parkinson's Disease, 14 Aug. 2015, advice-from-our-community. Provided information on the daily life with a person who has P.D.