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Parkinson's disease
What are the causes?
It occurs because Parkinson's affects a part of the brain known as the substantia nigra which plays a vital role in the control of movements. The substantia nigra has nerve cells (neurones) which produce a chemical called dopamine. In Parkinson's, these cells undergo progressive degeneration leading to progressive reduction of available dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical messenger that plays an important role in enabling people to initiate and perform smooth co-ordinated movements.
It is not known why the cells that produce dopamine die. Once eighty per cent of these cells have been destroyed the symptoms of Parkinson's will occur. Symptoms include shaking, muscle stiffness, and slowness of initiating and movement. There is no known cure.
What are the symptoms?
| How is it treated? 
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