Parkinson's disease, which is also known as Parkinson's, Parkinson disease or PD, is a chronic and progressive degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. It belongs to a group of conditions called movement disorders. Symptoms include muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement (bradykinesia) and a loss of physical movement (akinesia) in extreme cases. These are caused by a decreased stimulation of the motor cortex by the basal ganglia, which is normally caused by the insufficient formation and action of dopamine that is produced in the dopaminergic neurons of the brain (specifically the substantia nigra). Other symptoms may include high level cognitive dysfunction and subtle language problems.
Presently there is no cure for Parkinson's disease but treatment with medication, surgery and multidisciplinary management can provide relief from symptoms. The most widely used treatment, Levodopa (L-dopa) is converted to dopamine in the dopaminergic neurons by dopa-decarboxylase. However, as it can cause a reduction in the endogenous formation of L-dopa, doses should be kept as low as possible. Amantadine may also be useful although it is not a first choice treatment. It releases dopamine and norepinephrine from nerve endings and appears to be both a weak
NMDA receptor antagonist as well as having anticholinergic effects. Dextromethorphan may prevent symptoms from worsening as it protects dopaminergic neurons against degeneration.
Parkinson's disease
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