1.+Introduction+to+Parkinson's+Disease+-+Definition+and+History



= = __ **WHAT IS PARKINSON'S DISEASE? - ** __

Parkinson’s disease (PD), also known as Parkinson’s, idiopathic Parkinsonism, primary Parkinsonism, or paralysis agitans is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, and impairs motor skills and speech ("Parkinson's Disease", 2012). The primary symptoms are involuntary tremor of the limbs, difficulty in initiating and controlling voluntary movements, changes in posture and slowness ("Parkinson's Disease", 2012). As a result of the motor disturbances, there is reduced facial expression, movement disorder and the rate of blinking is decreased (Satoh & Kuzurah, 2008). It is a chronic and progressive disease and as it progresses there is a problem with balance, and falls may occur more frequently. There is no pain but the symptoms are inconvenient and incapacitating for the patient and his or her family ("Parkinson's Disease", 2012). Predominantly, Parkinson’s is a disease of the elderly with an average onset of around 60 years of age. However, it can be present in a very small number of younger people ("Parkinson's Disease", 2012; Satoh & Kuzurah, 2008).

= **A BRIEF HISTORY OF PARKINSON'S -- ** =  Parkinson’s disease has been a condition of concern since ancient times. The earliest recording and labelling of the condition was found under the Indian medical system, Ayurvend, and was named Kampavata which means "shaking or trembling" (Lee, 2007). There are other references of illnesses consisting of tremors and shaking recorded in 12th century B.C, and also in the Bible. These recordings also noted age to be a factor of the onset of these symptoms ("Parkinson's Disease", 2012). In 1817, a London doctor named James Parkinson published a detailed medical essay titled “An essay on the Shaking Palsy’’. This body of work gave this grouping of mobility-related symptoms medical recognition, and Parkinson’s was established as an official medical condition ("Parkinson's Disease", 2012) . Parkinson's essay was based on six cases he observed in his own practice and his observations of people as he walked around his own neighbourhood. His essay encouraged further research about the disease ("Parkinson's Disease", 2012).

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