Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the central nervous system in which nerve cells in a part of the brainstem called the substantia nigra degenerate. This results in a decrease in the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is essential to coordinate normal movement. When the amount of dopamine produced decreases to less than 80% of the normal level, movement is impaired and muscle tremor, stiffness, slowed movements, and balance problems occur.

As the disease progresses, Parkinson's patients often have difficulty with swallowing, speech, visual problems, gastrointestinal and urinary function, dizziness, and pain caused by tightness and cramping in muscles. Many Parkinson's patients also suffer from depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances and, in the later stages of the disease, memory loss and dementia. While Parkinson's disease typically progresses slowly, over a number of years, some people progress to disability faster. Although most people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease are over the age of 60, there has been a significant increase in the number of people diagnosed in their 30's and 40's. These numbers are expected to rise as society ages. Some experts predict as much as an 80% increase in the number of Americans disabled by this progressive disease by the year 2030.

A number of medications are used to manage the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Medication is usually initiated only when the patient begins to experience "functional disabilities", that is, when the person is having significant difficulty performing activities crucial to his quality of life. This varies considerably from person to person depending on lifestyle, occupation, and leisure activities.

Medications typically become less effective as the disease progresses. At that point, surgical techniques such as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) may relieve some of the symptoms and enhance quality of life.

Treatment is merely a stopgap in the relentless progression of this disease. What is needed is more research aimed at preventing Parkinson's and slowing its progression.