Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder with a usual age of onset between 40 and 70 years. It is characterized by a tetrad of symptoms: resting tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural abnormalities. In addition, patients may display varying degrees of autonomic dysfunction. The clinical course of the disease is unpredictable, with patients who exhibit minimal symptoms to those with rapid deterioration. Pharmacological therapy provides symptomatic relief in most patients, although adverse effects of medications are often intolerable. Recent advances have focused on the ability to eliminate or lessen fluctuations in symptom control, decrease the severity of adverse effects, and seek surgical interventions aimed at reversing the disease.