The disease is both chronic and progressive. Parkinson's is not usually inherited. Early symptoms are subtle and occur gradually. A variety of medications provide dramatic relief from the symptoms, but no drug can stop the progression of the disease. In some cases, surgery is an appropriate treatment.
Some doctors recommend physical therapy or muscle-strengthening exercises.
At present, there is no way to predict or prevent Parkinson's disease. Organizations American Parkinson Disease Association 1250 Hylan Blvd. A backgrounder on Parkinson's disease. A Research Planning Workshop Summary of a 1995 Parkinson's disease research planning workshop sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. This fact sheet is in the public domain.