Education

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder, effecting the brain. It is the fastest growing and second most common progressive neurological condition in the world.   Cells deep within the brain lose their ability to produce dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter (a chemical messenger).

Due to a loss of dopamine, people with Parkinson’s disease experience motor symptoms (i.e., symptoms effecting movement) such as slowness of movement, muscle stiffness, difficulty with walking, and a resting tremor. However, not every person will experience a tremor. Some people might also experience non-motor symptoms like mood changes, sleep problems, constipation or changes in thinking.

Some people may be diagnosed with atypical Parkinson’s. This occurs when people present with symptoms that are very similar to Parkinson’s disease, but stem from a different neurological disorder, such as multiple system atrophy, corticobasal syndrome, or progressive supranuclear palsy.

Who has Parkinson’s disease in Australia?

Parkinson’s disease is typically diagnosed in people aged over 60. However, Parkinson’s Disease can also be diagnosed in younger people. Its unknown exactly how many people have Parkinson’s in Australia, however it is estimated to be around 220,000 people.

How is Parkinson’s Disease treated?

Currently, there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, or drug to slow disease progression. However, there are many different treatments available to lessen symptoms and improve quality of life. To find out more about these see our link to external resources and look out for our Parkinson’s massive on-line open course (MOOC) coming in 2025.


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