| Acetylcholine |
A chemical messenger released by cholinergic nerves. Normally in many parts of the body, including the brain, and necessary to normal body functioning. An imbalance of the neurotransmitters acetylcholine and is associated with some of the symptoms Parkinson’s disease (PD) i.e., tremor and rigidity.
|
| Action Tremor |
Rhythmic, involuntary movement of a limb when movement is initiated, e.g., when writing or lifting a cup. Not usually seen in the earlier stages of Parkinson's.
|
| Activities of Daily Living (ADL) |
A rating scale which measures the impact of PD on 14 categories of daily living including: speech, salivation, swallowing, handwriting, cutting food and handling utensils, dressing, hygiene, turning in bed and adjusting bedclothes, falling, freezing when walking, walking, left- and right-sided tremor, and sensory complaints
|
| Agonist |
A chemical or drug that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter activity by stimulating the target site or receptor.
|
| Akinesia |
Absence of body movements. A sharp decline in motor performance with complete loss of the ability to initiate voluntary movement and loss of automatic movements, such as blinking.
|
| Amantadine |
A drug which improves symptoms by stimulating the release of available dopamine in the brain.
|
| Anticholinergic |
Adjective applied to a substance (medication) that reduces the action of acetylcholine
|
| Apomorphine |
A derivative of morphine and a dopamine agonist. Experimentally used now as injectable treatment for severe PD.
|
| Ataxia |
|
| Autonomic Nervous System |
The branch of the nervous system that controls internal organs in the body, i.e., heart, lungs.-
|
| Basal Ganglia or Nuclei |
Deeper structures in the brain, concerned with normal movement and walking. The caudate nucleus, putamen and substantia nigra are basal ganglia affected in Parkinson's.
|
| Benign Essential Tremor |
A condition characterized by tremor of the hands, head, voice, and sometimes other parts of the body. Essential tremor often runs in families and is sometimes called familial tremor. It is sometimes mistaken for a symptom of Parkinson's . However, this is an action tremor and there is no rigidity or bradykinesia.
|
| Bilateral |
Occurring on both sides of the body.
|
| Blepharospasm |
Spasmodic blinking or involuntary closing of the eye lids; a type of dystonia.
|
| Blood-Brain Barrier |
The protective membrane that separates circulating blood from the brain
|