Telegraph health advice: Parkinson's disease

- stiff and inflexible muscles

A person with Parkinson's disease can also experience a wide range of other physical and psychological symptoms, including depression, constipation, problems sleeping (insomnia), loss of sense of smell (anosmia) and memory problems.

Seeking medical advice

See your GP if you are concerned that you may have symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Your GP will ask about the problems you are experiencing and may refer you to a specialist for further tests.

What causes Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in part of the brain called the substantia nigra. This leads to a reduction in the amount of a chemical called dopamine in the brain.

Dopamine plays a vital role in regulating the movement of the body and a reduction in dopamine is responsible for many of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Exactly what causes the loss of nerve cells is unclear. Most experts think that a combination of genetic and environmental factors is responsible.

Who is affected

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Telegraph health advice: Parkinson's disease