Parkinson’s disease is a common neurologic disorder.  It affects people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds and is seen in countries all around the world.  Parkinson’s disease mostly begins between ages 55-60, although the majority of patients are over 65. Early onset Parkinson’s disease is now more widely recognized. Approximately ten percent of Parkinson patients are under the age of 50 (juvenile onset.)  It is estimated that 1 million Americans are affected, with 50,000 new cases diagnosed annually.  It affects men slightly more frequently than women.  Modern therapy has provided excellent treatment and control of many of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, but it still remains a progressive neurodegenerative disorder.

Essay on the Shaking Palsy by James Parkinson, 1817

Historical Background
Parkinson’s disease has been referred to in history as far back as the ancient Egyptians.  Hieroglyphic writings make reference to the symptoms of the disease.  The references to Parkinson’s disease throughout historical literature include the Bible, writings of Galen-the-Great, a Greek physician of the second century and in Shakespeare’s works. In 1817 a British surgeon, James Parkinson, wrote an essay on The Shaking Palsy.  In this paper he described the primary clinical symptoms of six patients affected with the disease.  In the later 1800′s, this clinical syndrome of tremor, rigidity and slowness of movements (bradykinesia) came to bear Dr. Parkinson’s name.

Cause
The underlying disease process for Parkinson’s disease was discovered in the 1950′s.  It was found that a specific area of the brain known as the substantia nigra was affected.  The substantia nigra is a dark pigmented area located in the brainstem.  Continue reading →