Darquan Hendricks
Ms. Kemp
English 12 B
2/4/2013

“Parkinson disease is a disorder that gradually destroys cells in certain regions of the brain involved in moving the body.” Symptoms include shaking, slow movement, postural instability, and loss of facial expression. Measured on a scale of 0-4 with 0 being no disability and 4 being totally disabled. At level 1 you begin to lose progress and by level 4 you lose ability to do things you use to do. It is difficult to diagnose Parkinson’s disease because the symptoms are similar to Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and many other diseases. It is recommended that if you see those symptoms that you visit a doctor with experience in multiple diseases. Parkinson's disease is caused by the progressive impairment or deterioration of neurons in an area of the brain known as the substantia nigra. There is no known cure for Parkinson’s disease but there are medications that can control the symptoms. There are support groups that help people cope with changes caused by Parkinson’s disease. Surgery may be an option for some patients with Parkinson's disease. These surgeries do not cure Parkinson's, but may help ease symptoms. Untreated, the disorder will get worse until a person is totally disabled. Parkinson's may lead to a deterioration of all brain functions, and an early death. Most people respond to medications. How much the medications relieve symptoms, and for how long can be very different in each person. The side effects of medications may be severe. In some cases, Parkinson's disease runs in families. When a young person is affected, it is usually because of a form of the disease that runs in families. Parkinson's is rare in children. It may occur because the nerves are not as sensitive to dopamine. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) conduct PD research in laboratories at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and also support additional research through grants to major medical institutions across the country. Current research programs funded by the NINDS are using animal models to study how the disease progresses and to develop new drug therapies. Scientists looking for the cause of PD continue to search for possible environmental factors, such as toxins, that may trigger the disorder, and study genetic factors to determine how defective genes play a role. Other scientists are working to develop new protective drugs that can delay, prevent, or reverse the disease. Surgery for Parkinson's disease has come a long way since it was first developed more than 50 years ago. The newest version of this surgery, deep brain stimulation (DBS), was developed in the 1990s and is now a standard treatment. Worldwide, about 30,000 people have had deep brain stimulation. During deep brain stimulation surgery, electrodes are inserted into the targeted brain region using MRI and neurophysiological mapping to ensure that they are implanted in the