Parkinson Disease Research Paper

Parkinson disease is a neurological disease that causes tremors in the extremities, gait disturbances and a mask face, which makes activities of daily life difficult often leading to residency in a long-term care facility. The disease was named after an English surgeon whom wrote an essay in 1817 on Shaking Palsy a condition that was later termed Parkinson disease by Jean-Martin Charlot, a French neurologist. Often Parkinson disease involves other symptoms in addition to motor issues such as emotional imbalance, difficulty speaking, dementia and GI problems. Parkinson disease symptoms typically start slowly and get progressively worse as the disease develops. Most patients are diagnosed with Parkinson disease around age 60 however symptoms may start early in life and is referred to as juvenile-onset Parkinson disease.

Most notedly the neurons which produce the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine lose their ability to function which in turn causes the major symptoms associated with Parkinson’s. Doctors and Scientists are not certain what causes these neurons to die however most evidence points to a combination of genetic mutation and environmental toxins. Most cases of Parkinson disease are sporadic however the disease can be familial as well. According to rarediseases.nih.gov, mutations of several genes contribute to the development of Parkinson disease. Mutations of the genes SNCA, LRRK2 and VPS35 are inherited in a dominate manner, whereas genes Park2, Park7 and PINK1 are recessively inherited. It is not understood how these genetic mutations lead to higher risk of Parkinson’s, however it is believed that these mutations disrupt cell machinery causing free radicals and protein buildup resulting in damage to dopamine