What is Parkinson's?
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition affecting
movements such as walking, talking, and writing. It is named after
Dr James Parkinson (1755-1824), the
London doctor who first identified Parkinson's as a specific
condition.
Parkinson's occurs as result of a loss of nerve cells in the
part of the brain known as the substantia nigra. These cells are
responsible for producing a chemical known as dopamine, which
allows messages to be sent to the parts of the brain that
co-ordinate movement. With the depletion of dopamine-producing
cells, these parts of the brain are unable to function
normally.
Parkinsonism
The main symptoms of Parkinson's can also be symptoms of other
disorders. Conditions that produce these symptoms are known
collectively as parkinsonism. Parkinson's is the most common form
of parkinsonism and is often referred to as "idiopathic Parkinson's
disease" (this means of unknown cause). Other, less common, forms
of parkinsonism include:
- multiple system atrophy (MSA)
- progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)
If you have one of these rarer conditions, the Parkinson's
Disease Society can provide you with support and may be able to put
you in touch with specific organisations that support people with
these conditions.
More information
For more information on Parkinson's and parkinsonism, visit our
Publications pages, where you can
download or order a wide range of information sheets and booklets.
Most of our publications are available free of charge.
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