About Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a progressive condition of the brain which usually produces symptoms including tremor, slow and shuffling gait, rigidity and stiffness, and poor balance related to changes in posture.  It can also impair one's ability to write clearly and speak audibly.

PD affects 1 in 100 people over age 60.  There are 1.5 million Americans who have PD and another 60,000 diagnosed every year.  The disease knows no boundaries, afflicting all sexes, races, ethnic and socioeconomic groups.  It is the second most common neurological disease, after Alzheimer's disease.

Presently, the cause of PD is not clear.  There is a genetic component in five to ten percent of patients, and some environmental toxins cause Parkinsonian-type diseases.  Many conditions can cause the symptoms characteristic of PD, so a thorough examination by a neurologist is needed to make the diagnosis and prescribe the correct course of treatment. 

Although PD remains a mysterious disorder, treatment can reduce symptoms, sometimes significantly.

"The old thinking was that PD is a degenerative disorder, so what's the use in treating it beyond  keeping people safe and comfortable," says David M. Lowell, M.D., RHCI's medical director and a neurologist who specializes in the neurobehavioral effects of brain injury.  "Fortunately, today we recognize that people can improve with the right care.  We don't want people going prematurely to nursing homes when we now have interventions that can improve their ability to function and have a decent quality of life."