Posted by Parkinson’s disease is a type of condition that targets the substantia nigra in the brain. “The substantia nigra is a midbrain dopaminergic nucleus, which has a critical role in modulating motor movement and reward functions as part of the basal ganglia circuitry ” (Sonne & Beato, 2022). “The basal ganglia is a group of interconnected subcortical nuclei ” (Sonne & Beato, 2022). The subcortical nuclei are responsible for everyday functions such as, “voluntary movement, cognitive planning, emotions and reward functions, and even cognition and learning ” (Sonne & Beato, 2022). When the subcortical nuclei become damaged it can lead to multiple neurological conditions, one of which being Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease occurs because of the loss or death of neurons in the substantia nigra. The neurons in this area are responsible for producing dopamine which is one of the main chemical messengers in the brain. People with Parkinson’s disease also have been found to have fewer nerve endings that produce neurotransmitter norepinephrine (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2024). Norepinephrine is the main chemical messenger in the body that is responsible for “many automatic functions of the body, such as pulse and blood pressure ” (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2024). The shortage of chemical messengers such as norepinephrine in people with Parkinson’s disease causes the neurons to not be able to send signals to each other (Cleveland Clinic, 2022).
“Neurological disorders are now the leading source of disability in the world, and [Parkinson’s disease] is the fastest growing of these disorders ” (Jankovic & Tan, 2020). According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, “nearly 90,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) each year ” (Parkinson’s Foundation, 2022). Males account for around 63.12% of all people suffering from Parkinson’s disease (Parkinson’s Foundation, 2022). Most people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of fifty-five to fifty-nine (Parkinson’s Foundation, 2022). All this being said, there is still yet to be a one hundred percent cure for Parkinson’s disease, but doctors say that “optimal management should start at diagnosis and requires a multidisciplinary team approach, including a growing repertoire of non-pharmacological interventions” (Bloem et al., 2021).
Symptoms of Parkinson’s vary from person to person, but common symptoms include tremors, slowed movement (bradykinesia), rigid muscles, poor posture or balance, speech changes, and non-motor symptoms. Tremors are usually in the hands and fingers but can also be in the foot or jaw. The tremors are caused by the absence or low levels of dopamine in the brain. People with Parkinson’s disease can suffer from bradykinesia which makes it harder to make everyday movements like standing up or changing clothes. Rigid muscles are another common symptom that can cause pain and harsh movements. Poor posture and balance may be another symptom of Parkinson’s disease. Speech can become slurred (Mayo Clinic, 2024). Examples of non-motor symptoms can include “depression, anxiety, constipation, and sleep problems” (Mayo Clinic, 2024).
Parkinson’s disease is still an ongoing issue that has yet to be cured. With nearly 90,000 people diagnosed per year in the U.S. alone, it is a disease that is still being studied by doctors globally and hopefully, one day will be cured for good.
References
Bloem, B. R., Okun, M. S., & Klein, C. (2021). Parkinson’s disease. The Lancet, 397(10291), 2284–2303. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00218-X
Cleveland Clinic. (2022, March 27). Norepinephrine: What it is, function, deficiency & side effects. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22610-norepinephrine-noradrenaline
Jankovic, J., & Tan, E. K. (2020). Parkinson’s Disease: Etiopathogenesis and Treatment. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 91(8), 795–808. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2019-322338
Mayo Clinic. (2024, April 5). Parkinson’s Disease. Mayo Clinic; Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20376055
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2024, November 15). Parkinson’s Disease. Www.ninds.nih.gov. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/parkinsons-disease
Parkinson’s Foundation. (2022, December 15). Number of People Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Increases to Nearly 90,000 Each Year. Parkinson’s Foundation. https://www.parkinson.org/blog/research/incidence-2022?utm_source=google&utm_medium=adgrant&utm_campaign=Info&utm_term=parkinson%27s%20disease%20facts%20and%20statistics&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzdTMu6vviQMVNx-tBh3l1wOdEAAYASAAEgJa7PD_BwE
Sonne, J., & Beato, M. R. (2022, October 24). Neuroanatomy, Substantia Nigra. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK536995/
