Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system affecting over 1.5 million people in the United States. That is more than suffer from Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy and Lou Gehrig’s disease combined. It is among the most common of the chronic neurological diseases, and yet the exact cause, as well as cure, remains unknown.

If your doctor thinks you may have PD, we encourage you to explore our website, or to call our office for more information.  This information can help you talk with your doctor about how PD is diagnosed, treated, and how it might progress.

PD, while most prevalent in the elderly, strikes young and old alike. About 20% of all diagnosis are made in people under 50. These cases are known as Young Onset or Early Onset. They face a different set of issues physically and medically than older people with Parkinson's. For more information on Young Onset PD, visit www.youngparkinsons.org or www.yopa.org.

PD is characterized by a decrease in spontaneous movements, gait difficulty, postural instability, rigidity and tremor. PD often begins with an occasional tremor in a finger or hand which becomes more frequent over time. The symptoms spread and become more severe over time.

The Cardinal Symptoms of PD are tremor (shaking), bradykinesia (slowness of movement), rigidity (stiffness), and postural instability (impaired balance.)  Three of these four symptoms must be noted before a diagnosis of PD is made.  The symptom most identified with PD, tremor, is not always present.

PD is caused by the degeneration of pigmented neurons in the substantia nigra of the brain resulting in a loss of the neurotransmitter, dopamine.

Treatment of PD consists of drugs, physical therapy, diet and occasionally surgery. Although medication may reduce the symptoms, the disease will progress.  Doctors cannot estimate exactly how quickly or slowly it will progress, as this varies from patient to patient.  Drugs in combination with diet and exercise help lessen the severity of PD and will enable the Parkinsonian to remain active longer.

While there is at present no cure for PD, the future is bright. With increased public awareness and continued research into exciting new medical areas, we are confident there will be a cure in our lifetime. For more information on PD, please call us at 913-341-8828 or visit the following web sites.

National Parkinson Foundation
Parkinson's Information Website
KU Medical Center–PD Center
National Institutes of Health
Parkinson's Action Network
The Michael J. Fox Foundation
Parkinson's Resources on the Net
Parkinson's Disease Foundation
We Move
Young Onset Parkinson's Association
World Parkinson Congress

For more information on caregiving please visit the following websites:

National Family Caregivers Association
Ageless Design
Health and Age