Question

What is the anatomy and physiology of the Parkinson’s Disease. What part(s) of the nervous system is/are affected and how is normal physiology interrupted? and what are the etiology, progression and final outcome of Parkinson’s?

Answer 1

Anatomy- Parkinson’s Disease is considered a disorder of the basal ganglia. The striatum receives excitatory input from several areas of the cerebral cortex, as well as inhibitory and excitatory input from the dopaminergic cells of the substantia nigra pars compacta. The actions of both input regulate the neuronal output from the Globis pallidus, thus providing tonic inhibitory input to the thalamic nuclei that project to the primary and supplementary motor areas.

Physiology- Dopamine, like other neurotransmitters, transmits chemical messages from one nerve cell to another across the synapse, a space between the presynaptic cell and the postsynaptic receptor. In Parkinson’s disease the loss of dopamine occurs at a much greater rate.the loss of dopamine in the pars compacta increases the overall excitatory drive in the basal ganglia,* disrupting voluntary motor control and causing the characteristic symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

In Parkinson's disease, nerve cells in deep parts of the brain called the basal ganglia and the substantia nigra are affected. Nerve cells in the substantia nigra produce the neurotransmitter dopamine and are responsible for relaying messages that plan and control body movement.

Etiology-it is a multifactorial disease, with both genetic and environmental factors playing a role.

Other factors are:-

Cigarette smoking

Caffeine

Expusure to pesticide, herbicide

Genetic factor

Autusomal dominant or recessive Parkinson's disease.

Final outcome of PD can include incontinence, insomnia, and dementia. Person may experience thinking difficulty, depression or emotional changes and swallowing problem.