Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD; paralysis agitans) is a neurodegenerative disease of the substantia nigra (an area in the basal ganglia of the brain). The disease was first discovered and its symptoms documented in 1817 (An Essay on the Shaking Palsy) by the British physician Dr. James Parkinson; the associated biochemical changes in the brain of patients were identified in the 1960s. Some genes were identified only recently; others remain unknown.

Parkinson's and death

Parkinson's does not by itself cause death, but since the disease may affect the respiratory system, sufferers may eventually contract pneumonia and die. Swallowing difficulties may lead to aspiration of food, causing aspiration pneumonia (a specific form of pneumonia caused by gastric acid, food and digestive tract bacteria) . Immobility may increase susceptibility to infection. However, people may live for 20 to 30 years with the condition.

Related Topics:
Respiratory system - Pneumonia - Aspiration - Aspiration pneumonia - Infection

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