Parkinson’s disease currently affects 153,000 in this day and age. But who really knows what it is?

 

Parkinson's disease is a condition that affects the brain. It causes shaking and stiffness that gets worse over time. It can also lead to Dementia in the long term.  It is caused by a loss of nerve cells in parts of the brain. It’s not clear exactly why this happens and scientists are currently still experimenting to get an answer. 

 

It usually impacts people age 60 and over and is a long-term, life threatening illness. 

 

A well known face and voice, Robin Williams, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s before his death. He later ended his life, and in his autopsy they discovered he had Lewy Body Dementia. 

 

Muhammad Ali had idiopathic Parkinson's disease that emerged at an early age, according to new evidence from physicians who repeatedly evaluated the fighter over 20 years. "Based on extensive long-term clinical and cinematic follow-up, it is clear that Muhammad Ali had young-onset tremor-dominant idiopathic Parkinson's disease” reported Michael Okun, MD, of the University of Florida in Gainesville, and co-authors. They studied Ali for many years because  "Ali is a vitally important part of our history and it is important we accurately document his Parkinson's disease symptoms and his disease course."

 

Treatments for Parkinson's disease include therapies to help with movement problems, medicines and sometimes brain surgery, but if it develops more into another disease or it is too far along then there is nothing they can do to treat it.