Dopamine and Parkinson’s disease: What to know – Medical News Today

Parkinsons disease is a complex motor disorder that can cause unintentional or uncontrollable movements. It typically occurs due to low levels of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical that plays an important role in movement and coordination.

Parkinsons disease (PD) is a progressive disorder that develops due to the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain that control movement. Normally, dopamine and other neurotransmitters work together to help coordinate movement. But without sufficient dopamine, this is not possible.

Estimates are that roughly 1.5 million people in the United States currently have Parkinsons disease, with approximately 60,000 American people receiving a diagnosis each year.

In this article, we will discuss the role of dopamine in Parkinsons disease, as well as symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for the condition.

Parkinsons disease is a neurodegenerative disorder of the nervous system that affects movement and worsens over time.

The condition occurs due to damage or death of nerve cells, or neurons, in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra. This part of the brain plays a critical role in controlling movement.

Neurons in the substantia nigra are dopaminergic. This means they are responsible for producing dopamine. If they are unable to produce dopamine, a person will likely begin to experience movement-related problems, such as tremors, rigidity, slowness of movement, and poor balance, which are all symptoms of Parkinsons disease.

Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter that plays a critical role in a number of bodily functions, such as movement and coordination. As such, low dopamine levels can cause problems with movement.

Dopamine is the chemical messenger that transmits signals between the substantia nigra and the corpus striatum. Researchers may refer to this as the nigrostriatal pathway. Both the substantia nigra and corpus striatum form part of the basal ganglia, which is a group of structures in the brain that help facilitate movement.

Low levels of dopamine may disrupt the nigrostriatal pathway and cause abnormal nerve firing patterns, which can result in movement problems. Evidence suggests that most people with PD lose 6080% or more of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra by the time they present symptoms.

The four main symptoms of PD include:

Click here to learn more about the signs and symptoms of Parkinsons disease.

People may not experience PD the same way, and the progression of the condition may also differ among individuals.

Early symptoms may be subtle and occur gradually. People may experience mild tremors, start noticing difficulty moving, or realize that tasks begin to take longer to complete. Some may notice that symptoms begin on one side of the body but eventually affect both sides. Symptoms are often less severe on one side than the other.

As the condition progresses, symptoms may start to interfere more with daily tasks. People may notice that shaking makes it very difficult for them to eat, they struggle getting out of a seat, and they may speak too softly or with hesitation.

Click here to learn more about the stages of Parkinsons disease.

Researchers are still unsure on the precise cause of PD. At present, evidence suggests that it most likely results from a combination of genetics and exposure to environmental factors that trigger the condition.

Scientists have identified that PD occurs when neurons in the brain become impaired or die and start producing less dopamine. However, they are unclear exactly what causes this. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke suggests the following potential causes:

Parkinsons disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement. It occurs due to low levels of dopamine in the area of the brain that facilitates movement. Without sufficient dopamine, the brain is unable to transmit signals to correctly coordinate movement.

Experts are still unsure of the exact cause of Parkinsons disease, but suspect that genetics and the environment play a role. Current treatment options include drug therapy, surgery, and complementary therapies.

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Dopamine and Parkinson's disease: What to know - Medical News Today