Parkinson’s Disease

About Parkinson’s Disease

• Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the nervous system that primarily affects movement.
• Affected Brain Region: It involves the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, a region near the base of the brain.
  • Dopamine acts as a chemical messenger (neurotransmitter) that transmits signals in the brain to produce smooth and purposeful movements.
• Role of Basal Ganglia: The basal ganglia are interconnected brain structures involved in movement, habit formation, decision-making and emotions.
• Cause
  • Unknown Cause: The exact cause of Parkinson’s disease is not known.
  • Genetic Factors: People with a family history of the disease have a higher risk.
  • Environmental Factors: Exposure to air pollution, pesticides and solvents may increase the risk.
  • Affected Groups: It usually occurs in older people, but younger people can also develop it.
    • Men are affected more often than women.
• Symptoms
  • Movement Problems: Symptoms include slow and involuntary movements, tremors, muscle stiffness and impaired balance.
  • Other Symptoms: Patients may experience dementia, sleep disorders and cognitive impairment.
    • Patients may lean forward, take small and quick steps and experience difficulty starting or continuing movement.
  • Progression: Symptoms usually begin on one side of the body but eventually affect both sides.
• Diagnosis: Currently, no blood laboratory or radiological tests are available to diagnose Parkinson’s disease.
• Treatment: Currently, there is no permanent cure for Parkinson’s disease.
  • However, treatments can significantly improve symptoms.

Recent Scientific Developments

• Scientists developed a more effective and less invasive gene therapy that reduced Parkinson’s-related tremors in animal.
• Brain Cell Atlas: Researchers created a cellular atlas of the basal ganglia using 25.5 million brain cells from humans, macaques and marmosets to identify different brain cell types and their functions.
• Significance: The atlas can help identify specific brain cell types linked to neurological disorders and improve understanding of their genetic basis.