Parkinson's disease

Parkinson’s disease is a serious disorder that affects the part of the brain that controls movement. It causes tremor, stiff muscles, and walking and balance problems. The disease is chronic and progressive, which means it gets worse over time.

Parkinson’s disease usually affects people over age 50, but also occurs in younger adults. More than 500,000 Americans have the condition.

Normally, certain nerve cells (neurons) in the brain produce a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine helps transmit signals between nerve cells within the brain. Parkinson’s disease damages these dopamine-producing nerve cells so they stop working properly. When this happens, body movement cannot be controlled in a normal way.

There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but many treatments are available to control symptoms. Learn more about Parkinson’s disease symptoms under the left navigation under “Parkinson’s Disease”.