What Is Parkinson's Disease?
Parkinson's is a neurological disease that affects the brain, resulting in physical symptoms like poor coordination, balance problems and difficulty moving and walking, says the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). Unlike dementia and Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's doesn't affect memory or cognitive function.
What Causes It
The symptoms of Parkinson's disease occur when cells that create the chemical dopamine are destroyed or damaged in some way. Without dopamine, the body can't respond, move and function as it normally does. Though it's not always known what causes this damage to cells and dopamine production, says the Mayo Clinic, it's thought that there is a genetic cause in many cases. The Mayo Clinic also notes that exposure to various harmful substances in the environment, like pesticides and herbicides, or industrial chemicals also play a role.
Who Gets It
People over the age of 50 are most likely to develop Parkinson's disease, says the NLM. The disease also tends to run in families, so people with a family history of the disease are more likely to develop it. And, men are more susceptible than women to Parkinson's---men are 50 percent more likely to get the disease, says the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
There is no known way to prevent Parkinson's disease, says the NINDS---no diet, drug or lifestyle change that can keep cells from deteriorating. But, researchers are working on a way to identify the disease even before symptoms appear and on new treatments to help preserve cells and prevent the onset of symptoms. And although some genetic testing may be able to identify an individual's risk for the disease, right now there is no known way to prevent Parkinson's disease from developing, says the NINDS.
