April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects predominately dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain called the substantia nigra.  Symptoms generally develop slowly over years.  Due to the diversity of the disease, the progression of symptoms is different from one person to another.

People with Parkinson’s Disease may experience:

  • Tremors
  • Bradykinesia (slow muscle movement)
  • Limb stiffness or rigidity
  • Gait and balance issues

The cause remains largely unknown. Although there is no cure, treatment options vary. While Parkinson’s itself is not fatal, disease complications can be serious. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rated complications from Parkinson’s Disease as the 14th cause of death in the United States.

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