What is Parkinson’s disease?

  • Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that causes involuntary movements, shaking, poor coordination/balance, stiffness, behavioral issues, and many others.

What causes PD?

  • Parkinson’s disease is caused the impaired or dead nerve cells in the basal ganglia, the portion of your brain that controls your body’s movement. The dead/impaired neurons produce less dopamine thus causing the associated complications.

Psychological symptoms:

  • Depression – usually caused by their new dependence of others.
  • Emotional changes – fearfulness, insecurities, irritability, and pessimistic views.
  • Dementia – slow thinking, memory problems, social judgement, language, and reasoning skills.
  • In some cases there are psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions.

Common symptoms that come before the stiffness/tremors:

  • Sleep problems, loss of smell, restless legs, bowel movement issues.

Physical symptoms:

  • Tremors, stiffness, slow/imbalanced movement, difficulties with speech/chewing/swallowing, orthostatic hypotension, urinary/bowel complications, and skin problems.