Parkinson’s Disease is a chronic movement disorder whose symptoms worsen over time. A cure has not been developed and the cause of this disease is currently unknown.
According to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, Parkinson’s is the result of the malfunction and death of neurons, which are vital nerve cells within the brain. Every part of the body has a job and the job of many of these neurons is the production of dopamine, a chemical that sends signals to the part of the brain that controls movement and coordination. As the amount of dopamine that is produced by the body decreases, a person progressively loses the ability to control movement normally.
The foundation also lists common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease as tremors of the limbs and face, slowness of movement, stiff limbs and impaired coordination or movement.
According to Brittanica, Parkinson’s disease received its name after British physician James Parkinson first described the disease in 1817 in a passage titled, “Essay on the Shaking Palsy.”
This disease has claimed the lives of Muhammad Ali, who passed late Friday night (June 3), and musician Maurice White, who passed away in February of 2016.