Parkinson's Disease is a biochemical disorder of the brain which slows body movement and response. Without treatment it is slowly progressive and disabling. His observations and descriptions remain accurate today even though knowledge and treatment have vastly improved.
Dopamine is a neuro-transmitter found primarily in the basal ganglia of the brain.
At present the cause of its loss is unknown, but treatment aims at controlling symptoms which differ from person to person in degree of severity. Parkinson's Disease can cause chronic disability but it is not usually fatal. Treatment includes medications to replace the Dopamine and sensitize brain cell to its action, as well as physical and occupational therapies. That is why we do not refer to Parkinsons as a disease - we do not know the cause. Today, in Canada, there are about 100,000 people suffering with Parkinsons.