Parkinson's disease affects the part of the brain responsible for control of movement, which in turn may cause difficulties such as tremors, stiffness and slowness of movements.

Symptoms vary from person to person, and can change from day to day.

In the course of time, symptoms tend to get worse, leading to difficulties with daily activities, such as walking, getting in and out of bed, rising from a chair etc.

There are cases where mental faculties may also be affected, causing a direct influence on ones social life.

People also find that they need a greater degree of concentration to do things like getting dressed, writing or doing simple tasks such as repairs, because the brain cannot affectively direct the movements needed.

In the long term, problems may arise such as maintaining posture and balance, which may result in falls.

Other symptoms involve problems with urinating, slow bowel movements and greasy skin.

Symptoms can change from day to day and sometimes even from hour to hour.

For example, a person may find it very difficult to move and act, then thirty minutes later, he will be going for a walk.

These changes are very common. They are part of Parkinson’s disease or may also be a result of drug treatment.

In Parkinson’s disease, a small part of the brain known as the "black nucleus" or substantia nigra, is damaged.

This nucleus of nerve cells plays an important role in enabling a smooth flow of movements. It takes place by means of a chemical substance called Dopamine which is manufactured in the substania nigra.

Dopamine is a chemical messenger (neurotransmitter).

Parkinson’s disease damages the cells of the substantia nigra, so that insufficient Dopamine is produced.

This causes movement difficulties, muscular stiffness, tremors and arrhythmic movements, within different physiologic organ, such as our digestive system and breathing system.

Parkinson’s disease might be caused because of a genetic component, a virus or an immunological disease.

Today there are assumptions that in some cases it might occur as the body wears itself out psychologically (stress) or because of a trauma.

Parkinson’s disease tends to begin gradually and that is why the course of the disease is referred to as progressive.

Initial signs of Parkinson's may occur when people feel tired or experience slight cramps such as pain in the arms (limbs), tremors or constipation.

The symptoms can remain slight for years and become more serious as time passes.

However it is a mistake to suppose that everyone with Parkinson’s disease becomes seriously disabled.

Much can be done to alleviate Parkinson’s disease complains, through medication, physiotherapy, arts of movement, meditation, the potential of the brain and taking responsibility over ones condition in order to be in control over the disease.

Tremor: is often the first symptom of Parkinson’s disease to show. It usually begins very slightly, in an arm or hand or one side of the body.

Stiffness: Rigidity is caused by excessive muscular tension. It usually begins in the neck or shoulders.

Movements will become slower. Automatic movements like walking may also become difficult.

The stiffness and tremors are a severe strain on the muscles. This often causes people with Parkinson’s disease to feel tired.

Parkinson’s disease is like a puzzle comprised of:                                                                              

 

Note: These are parts of the Parkinson’s disease puzzle, but it is of utter importance to know that the puzzle is not made up of all the combinations; sometimes only parts of it. Also, there are different stages of intensity to this puzzle. It is also very important to know that in many cases the state of the patient's psychology plays a leading role in his condition. In many cases the psychology may be worse than the disease itself, or be such a burden on the disease that the Parkinson patient loses reality.