Table of contentsIntroductionSigns and symptomsReferencesIntroductionParkinson's disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease, was originally described in 1817 by James Parkinson in the classic 'Essay on the Shaking Paralysis''. Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) still has much to discover. Rapidly aging populations and increasing life expectancy suggest that Parkinson's disease will become an even more significant health problem in the near future. Most cases are sporadic, although there are some clearly defined families with autosomal dominant inheritance patterns. Most of these families contain defective genes for one of several intracellular proteins. The ultimate pathology of PD is the presence of Lewy bodies (ubiquitin-containing granules) in the cytoplasm of neurons in the degenerating substantia nigra, pars compacta (the region of dopaminergic neurons projecting to the substantia nigra). It is characterized by cellular degeneration of the substantia nigra. This causes a disruption between the neurotransmitters dopamine and acetylcholine, the balance of which allows normal movement. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essaySigns and SymptomsSymptoms do not develop until approximately 50-60% of nigral neurons are lost and approximately 80 to 85% of the dopamine content of the striatum is depleted. Symptoms may include tremors, stiffness and posture problems, excessive sweating, gastrointestinal difficulties, weight loss, fatigue, pain, problems with sexual function and incontinence. Decline in cognitive function, dementia and depression have also been reported. Symptoms can affect functional performance. Medications can cause an on/off phenomenon, with symptoms worsening because the medication fails to produce the desired effect. The presence of additional health conditions further diversifies the experience of Parkinson's disease. Four major, distinct groups of symptoms are generally described as part of the Parkinsonism symptom complex. These groups include tremor, muscle rigidity, akinesia, and loss of normal postural fixation reflexes.4 The degree to which each of these four signs occurs in Parkinsonism varies considerably from patient to patient. Tremor consists of the rhythmically alternating contraction of a given muscle group and its antagonists.4 The rate of tremor averages about two to six oscillations per second and is usually more evident in the distal parts of the limbs than in the proximal parts. However, tremor does not only affect the limbs but in some cases also the jaw, tongue, face and pectoral structures. Muscle rigidity is another major constituent of Parkinson's disease. The associated rigidity in Parkinson's cases is usually a passive movement impedance present throughout the full range of motion, thus serving to differentiate rigidity from spasticity. When the intensity of stiffness is quite similar to the range of motion, the stiffness is called “lead” stiffness. However, in some cases of Parkinson's, hypertonic muscles, when passively stretched, exhibit irregular jerks while resisting movement, as if being pulled on a ratchet, a condition called "cogwheel" rigidity. Rigidity can be. 3998–4022.