Parkinson’s is a progressive multisystem degenerative disease for which there is no current cure. People are typically diagnosed after there is demonstrable neurologic dysfunction. When certain nerve cells (neurons) in the substantia nigra portion of the brain die or become impaired, they are unable to produce enough dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter made in the brain. Basically, it acts as a chemical messenger between neurons. Movement symptoms of Parkinson’s disease appear when 70-80% of these cells lose function. Dopamine allows smooth, coordinated operation of the body’s muscles for easy movement. A dopamine deficit makes movement more difficult. People with Parkinson’s exhibit visible symptoms such as tremors, slowed movement (especially walking) or stiffness, often on one side of the body. These are called motor symptoms. Equally challenging are the non-motor symptoms that go unseen. These can include constipation, fatigue, loss of smell, sleep disorders, depression, apathy, and more. PANC is here to support the thousands of people affected by Parkinson’s throughout Northern California.

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