Parkinson’s Disease: Changes in Daily Life

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive brain disease produced by degeneration of neurons in the substantia nigra and other brain nuclei. The cause is unknown but environmental and genetic factors are thought to play a role. Clinical symptoms and signs are related to the motor system, cognitive and psychiatric function, and the autonomic nervous system. Rest tremor, bradykinesia, and rigidity are the hallmarks of the disease. As the disease progresses, dementia, hallucinations, paranoia, orthostatic hypotension, and urinary frequency may become major disabling factors in a patient’s life. Parkinson’s disease affects employment, social functioning, and participation in society. Significant numbers of patients lose independence in their activities of daily living and quality of life for patients and caregivers may be impaired. There is no way of slowing the degenerative process or curing the disease.