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Parkinson's Disease
Glossary of terms

There are over 40 symptoms of Parkinson’s. From a tremor or stiffness, to problems with sleep and mental health. Everyone’s experience is different.

Read the medical declaimer for this site. 

Akinesia

Motor symptoms

Slowness of movement

Anosmia

Non-motor symptoms

Loss of the sense of smell

Apathy

Lack of interest or concern

Bradykinesia

Motor symptoms

Slowness of movement

Dysarthria

Motor symptoms

Impaired speech function

Dyskinesia

Motor symptoms

Abnormal involuntary movements

Dysphagia

Motor symptoms

Difficulty in swallowing

Dystonia

Motor symptoms

Characterized by persistent or intermittent contractions of opposing muscles causing abnormal movements or postures

Endocannabinoid system

Pathophysiology

A group of lipids in the brain that act as neurotransmitters

Free radicals

Pathophysiology

Unstable molecules that can damage cells

GABA

Neurotransmitters

A neurotransmitter that inhibits the activity of neurons

Gene

Genetics

A unit of heredity that is passed from parent to offspring

Levodopa

Treatment

A drug that is converted to dopamine in the brain

Lewy body

Pathophysiology

Abnormal protein clumps that accumulate in dead or dying dopamine-producing cells of the substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Diagnosis

A medical imaging technique that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the inside of the body

Microglia

Pathophysiology

A type of immune cell that resides in the brain

Neurodegeneration

Pathophysiology

The progressive loss of neurons

Neurofibrillary tangle

Pathophysiology

Abnormal protein clumps that accumulate in dead or dying neurons in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases

Parkinson's disease

bradykinesia

A neurological disorder that causes tremor

Postural instability

Motor symptoms

Difficulty with balance

Prolactin

Non-motor symptoms

A hormone that is produced by the pituitary gland

Restless legs syndrome (RLS)

A neurological disorder that causes an irresistible urge to move the legs

Substantia nigra

Anatomy

A part of the brain that is involved in movement

Tremor

An involuntary

Ubiquitin

Pathophysiology

A protein that is involved in the process of protein degradation

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