Parkinson's Disease Research Paper

Parkinson’s Disease (also known as hypokinetic rigid syndrome or paralysis agitans) is a progressive degenerative disorder of the nervous system .() It was first described in 1817 by Dr. James Parkinson who published an essay on six patients with similar symptoms.() The disorder is characterized by resting tremors, abnormal gait, masklike face and diminished muscle strength in the early stages and dementia in the later stages. The cause of these symptoms is a decrease in dopamine producing cells in the substantia nigra part of the brain.() Today nearly one million Americans are diagnosed with this disease.()
There are environmental and genetic factors which have been linked with Parkinson’s disease. Only ten percent of patients have an inheritable …show more content…
Many scientist like *insert scientist and explain work*. But for the time being this is how Parkinson’s is treated; through many kinds of medications or surgery. These are all what the medications are not exact names since many are for each kind. Medications like Carbidopa-levodopa which is a natural chemical that seems to be the most effective medication for Parkinson’s patients of all stages. It converts into dopamine. Carbidopa is added to levodopa so then the levodopa cannot prematurely transform into dopamine leaving patients feeling nausea. Other side effects are light headedness and high doses of levodopa may cause dyskinesia (involuntary movement). As the disease progress affects of the medicine will wear off. Other medications is Duopa which is carbidopa-levodopa in food form which is administered to patients through a feeding tube. This is mainly used in advanced Parkinson's patients. If carbidopa-levodopa is not working for you Dopamine agonist may it's a medication that mimics dopamine and last longer than carbidopa-levodopa but is not as effective. Side effects include hallucinating, drowsiness, compulsive behavior (hyper-sexuality, gambling, eating, etc). For patients in the early stages of Parkinson's Disease they may be prescribed an Amantadine which is short term relief for early Parkinson’s patients or is administered to later stages patients with carbidopa-levodopa

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