Parkinson's Disease By: Maya Chahbi

 


Parkinson’s Disease

Introduction:

Parkinson’s disease is a movement condition of the nervous system that gets worse over

time.Parkinson’s is important because it is a progressive neurological movement disorder and

one of the fastest-growing health problems worldwide,impacting millions.This disease mainly

affects older adults,individuals with specific genetic or environmental risk factors.

Causes:

In Parkinson's disease,neurons in your brain slowly break down and die.Many Parkinson's

disease symptoms are caused by a loss of neuron that produce dopamine in the brain.Decreased

dopamine leads to unusual brain activity.This causes movement issues and other symptoms of

Parkinson's disease.Some people with this disease also lose norepinephrine that may contribute

to symptoms such as blood pressure problems and other autonomic issues.

Symptoms:

Parkinson's disease symptoms are different for everyone, but the usual symptoms are

tremors,bradykinesia (slow movement),muscle rigidity,balance and postural instability which

often happens later in the condition,and speech changes.Early symptoms may not be

noticeable,it usually affects one side of the body,then both sides.Symptoms are normally worse

on one side than the other.Some Parkinson's disease symptoms are similar to other disorders.

Statistics:

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide,and its

commonness is increasing fast.There are over 11.7 million people worldwide living with

Parkinson.It is projected that in 2050,the global cases will increase by 112% to reach 25.2

million by 2050.Nearly 1.3 million people are newly diagnosed with Parkinson each year

worldwide.


Awareness:

Learning about Parkinson’s disease is critical because early symptoms are normally

misunderstood for normal aging,causing vital delays in treatments that can sustain a person's

independence and early diagnosis allows treatment to begin sooner,helping patients manage

their symptoms and maintain their independence.Early awareness of Parkinson’s disease is vital


because it allows patients to obtain neuroprotective treatments,lifestyle mediation,and clinical

trials at a time when the brain has an increased number of recoverable dopamine-producing

neurons.When Parkinson’s disease is misunderstood it creates a harmful chain reaction of

delayed medical care,preventable hospital injuries,and severe psychological trauma.Patients

with Parkinson’s face a complicated combination of advanced physical limitations and

emotional and cognitive changes.Continued research is vital for developing treatments that

may one day slow,prevent ,or cure Parkinson's disease.Increasing Parkinson’s awareness directly

improves patient results by increasing the time to accurate diagnosis and building

proficient,anticipatory care systems.

Conclusion:

In conclusion,Parkinson’s disease affects the brain and gets worse over time,impacting many

people worldwide.Thorough treatment for Parkinson’s disease is critical to manage weakening

symptoms,maintain patient freedom, and prevent life-threatening issues.

Sources:

● Mayo Clinic Staff. "Parkinson's Disease - Symptoms and Causes." Mayo

Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 27 Sept.

2024,

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms-c

auses/syc-20376055.

● "Epidemiology of Parkinson's Disease – Global Burden of Disease Research

from 1990 to 2021 and Future Trend Predictions." Clinical Parkinsonism &

Related Disorders, vol. 14, Jan. 2026, p. 100421,

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12828836/.

● "Statistics." Parkinson's Foundation, 2026,

www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/statistics.

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