Parkinson's Disease Overview
This page is a free interactive educational app about Parkinson's disease, covering what it is, how it progresses, and who is affected. JavaScript is required to run the interactive version.
What is Parkinson's Disease?
Parkinson's disease is a chronic, slowly progressive brain disorder that mainly affects movement. Nerve cells in a deep brain area (substantia nigra) gradually lose their function and stop producing dopamine, leading to tremor, slowness, and stiffness.
How Does Parkinson's Progress?
Symptoms usually start on one side and slowly spread. Early stage involves mild tremor or stiffness. Middle stage sees both sides involved. Advanced stage may require daily assistance with activities like dressing and bathing.
Who Is Affected?
Mainly older adults, with symptoms beginning around age 60 on average. About 1% of people over 60 are estimated to have Parkinson's disease.