Parkinson’s Disease
This movement disorder occurs when the brain doesn’t produce sufficient amounts of dopamine. While there are some genetic cases, for the most part, Parkinson’s Disease is not an inherited one. Researchers believe it could be triggered by environmental factors, such as chemical exposure.
The Symptoms
The onset of symptoms is gradual. Perhaps the best example of PD is Michael J. Fox who continues to work after his diagnosis, which he disclosed to the public almost two decades ago and the slow decline in his movements.
As per WebMD, the symptoms at the beginning include stiffness in the arms and legs, difficulty with balance and coordination, slower movements, as well as trembling in the legs, hands, arms, and even the face and jaw. Continue reading
Firstly, what is a risk factor? Quite simply it’s anything that increases your risk of developing a particular disease or condition. A good example would be how obesity steeply increases the risk of someone developing type 2 diabetes, thus obesity is considered a risk factor (for type 2 diabetes and a whole host of other diseases as well).
While we don’t yet have a definitive list of causes of Parkinson’s Disease, we do have a list of risk factors as described by WebMD and Mayo Clinic, which may contribute to the likelihood of you developing it.
Parkinson’s Disease Risk Factors
