Parkinson's disease usually begins as a slight tremor of one hand, arm, or leg. Later, the disease affects both sides of the body and causes stiffness and weakness, as well as trembling, of the muscles. Eating, washing, dressing and other everyday activities gradulaly become very difficult to manage. Depression is common. Although there is no treatment for Parkinson's disease, much can be done for sufferers to improve their morale and mobility through exercise, special aids in the home and auto, and encouragement.
Organizations exist to provide help and advice for sufferers and their families.
This is often all that is needed in the early stages of the disease. Later, treatment is with drugs, which minimize symptoms but cannot halt the degeneration of brain cells. Such treatment is often complex because several different types of drugs may need to be administered in various combinations. Levodopa, which the body converts into dopamine, is usually the most effective drug and is often the first drug tried. Many other new drugs have been developed for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.