What is Parkinson’s disease?

A possible cure for genetic diseases 2:21 (CNN) — Parkinson’s disease is a “progressive disorder of the nervous system,” according to the Mayo Clinic, that primarily affects a patient’s movements. It often starts with a small hand tremor or muscle stiffness, and gets worse over time. There are no tests to detect Parkinson’s, so a misdiagnosis is sometimes made. Parkinson’s patients often have trouble walking and talking. Symptoms include slow movements, loss of balance, and slurred speech. With Parkinson’s disease, “you may experience a decreased ability to perform unconscious movements, such as blinking, smiling or swinging your arms when you walk,” says the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms are often worse on one side of the body. Who does Parkinson’s affect? Approximately 1 million people have Parkinson’s disease in the United States, according to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. Men are more likely to get the disease than women, and it usually affects people over the age of 50. World Parkinson’s Day is commemorated 2:43 What causes Parkinson’s disease? Your body uses a chemical called dopamine to control movement, according to the National Institutes of Health. Dopamine is produced by neurons in the brain, which begin to die with Parkinson’s disease. As there are fewer living cells, what occurs is a dopamine deficiency; This causes movement problems. Scientists don’t know exactly what causes these cells to begin to deteriorate, but they think it’s a combination of genes and environmental causes. Roughly 15% to 25% of Parkinson’s patients have a family member with the disease, says the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. In some cases, research has identified a single gene mutation that is passed from generation to generation, according to the Michael J. Fox Foundation. “To date, mutations in the LRRK2 gene have been found to be the genetic trait that most contributes to Parkinson’s disease,” the site states. But in most cases, the cause is probably a combination of gene mutations. Studies have also linked chemicals such as TCE and PERC to Parkinson’s disease, although the link has not been proven. “A simple exposure to an environmental toxin is never enough to cause Parkinson’s disease,” says the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. “In fact, there is no conclusive evidence that an environmental factor alone can be considered the cause of the disease.” Can you treat her? There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, according to the National Institutes of Health, but doctors can help patients deal with symptoms. A drug called levodopa is given to patients to help their brains make more dopamine. It is often prescribed with carbidopa, which helps levodopa get into the brain. The Food and Drug Administration has approved deep brain stimulation, which is also used to treat depression, to reduce symptoms in Parkinson’s patients. Electrodes are implanted in the brain and connected to a small device that emits programmed pulses to help control movement. Other patients prefer less invasive forms of therapy, such as tai chi. A Harvard University study found that Parkinson’s patients improved after researchers transplanted tissue from fetal dopamine-producing cells into their brains. Patients with severe symptoms experienced 50% fewer symptoms in the years after surgery. People who had been taking medication to control their Parkinson’s but found that the medication no longer worked also saw significant improvements after surgery.