KNYSNA NEWS - Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that causes involuntary or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination.

Symptoms usually begin gradually and worsen over time.

As the disease progresses, people may have difficulty in walking and talking. They may also have mental and behavioural changes, sleep problems, depression, memory difficulties, and fatigue.

Basal ganglia

It affects men more than women and most people develop it after the age of 60.

The basal ganglia is an area of the brain that controls movement. The neurons (nerve cells) in the basal ganglia produce a brain hormone known as dopamine which is a neurotransmitter.

Dopamine

When these cells are damaged or die less dopamine is produced. This causes a loss of connection between the brain and other body parts which in turn results in the loss of control of body movements.

The exact cause of Parkinson's disease is not known. In most cases the disease does not seem to run in families.

Alpha-synuclein

Autopsy studies of people with Parkinson's disease have shown that some of the brain cells contain clumps of a protein called alpha-synuclein. These clumps are known as Lewy bodies. It is thought that they damage healthy brain cells and the fibres connecting them.

Similar findings have been noted in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.

Pesticides, heavy metals

However the exact significance of these findings is not completely understood.

In some cases Parkinson's disease has been linked to exposure earlier in life to pesticides and heavy metals such as lead, mercury, manganese and cadmium.

Traumatic brain injury is also strongly implicated as a risk factor. Well described in boxers, Muhammad Ali was the best known case.

-Dr Giovanni Coci, Specialist Physician

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