Parkinson’s Disease is a chronic, progressive disorder of the brain belonging to a category of conditions called “motor system disorders.” In this disease, nerve cells of the brain that make the chemical known as dopamine die or become impaired. Dopamine is responsible for transmitting signals from one area of the brain to the next to produce steady, purposeful muscle activity. With a decrease in dopamine production, neurons fire out of control, and a person experiences decreased ability to direct or to control movement. In some people with Parkinson’s, other chemical transmitters, such as norepinephrine, which is involved in controlling the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system, may also be deficient.
Primary symptoms of Parkinson Disease include: tremors, muscle rigidity, slowness of movement, impairment of balance. Secondary symptoms are: fatigue, sleep pattern disturbances, changes in mood & memory, changes in speech & swallowing, and changes in bowel and bladder function.
American Parkinson Disease Association – Information & Referral Center (Boston)
Boston University School of Medicine
72 East Concord Street, C3
Boston, MA 02118
Phone: 617-638-8466 or 800-651-8466
Email: apdama@apdaparkinson.org
National Parkinson Foundation
200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800
Miami, Florida 33131
Phone: 305-243-6666
Toll Free HELPLINE: 800-473-4636
Help Line: helpline@parkinson.org
Email: contact@parkinson.org
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
Grand Central Station
P.O. Box 4777
New York, NY 10163-4777.
Phone: 1-800-708-7644
Contact us
Understanding Parkinson’s Disease – Michael J. Fox Foundation
What is Parkinson’s Disease? – Parkinson’s Foundation
Parkinson’s Disease Information Page – National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Fact Sheet last updated on: 3/21/2023
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Disclaimer: INDEX is pleased to provide you this information. Please note, this information is not comprehensive, nor is it intended to take the place of professional advice. We encourage you to check other resources of such information. No endorsement by the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, DisabilityInfo.org, INDEX, or affiliates, should be inferred. We reserve the right to remove, to modify, or to add any information at any time, for any reason, and without notice.
Any information you may provide to update or further complete this information would be appreciated. Please contact us with comments. We appreciate your help.