What is Parkinson's disease?
First described in 1817 by J. Parkinson, Parkinson’s disease is a central nervous system disease that affects the structures responsible for movement, balance, maintaining muscle tone, and posture. One of these structures is the substantia nigra, a nucleus of the brainstem that contains dopamine, an essential neurotransmitter that regulates movement.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
The disease is manifested by tremors, slowing down, rigidity and impaired balance, posture and gait. The signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can differ in each person.
The first signs of Parkinson’s disease can be slight and unnoticeable. Symptoms often start on one side of the body and usually continue to worsen on the same side, even after the symptoms have started to affect both sides. Parkinson’s disease can initially be manifested with mood problems or even depression, being difficult to diagnose during this phase.