Dealing With Parkinson's Disease: A Guide For Patients And Families

Parkinson's disease is an ongoing, progressive disease of the nervous system that affects a patient's movement. Millions of individuals worldwide are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and though there is currently no cure for it, there are treatment options to help manage symptoms quite effectively. The cause of Parkinson's disease is presently not known, but research attributes the disease to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. About ten to fifteen percent of cases of Parkinson's disease are considered genetic forms, so the chance of getting the disease if it runs in the family is fairly low. Age also plays a role, with most cases of Parkinson's disease beginning after an individual is sixty years old.