Parkinson’s Disease Essay -- Medicine Health Biology Research

Parkinson’s Disease Parkinson’s disease is a disease with a wide variety of disabilities recognizable as changes in appearance, posture, walking, and balance. In 1817, the English physician James Parkinson described these symptoms in his patients and has had his name become synonymous with the disease. In 1893 the substantia nigra of the basal ganglia was identified as an area of disease for Parkinson’s. Examination with the naked eye reveals a lack of black pigment in this portion of the brainstem. Subsequent follow up with the microscope showed a deterioration of the nerve cells in this area. The circuitous relationship between the substantia nigra and the basal ganglia explains many of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Today the cause of the disease remains unknown, however, the biochemistry is well documented and recently discovered neurotoxins have us hot on the trail of this disease. Portions of the cerebellum are involved in the control of posture and balance and also modulate voluntary movement. The basal ganglia and the cerebellum interact with the cerebral cortex through a series of feedback circuits. The dentate and interpositus nuclei of the cerebellum project to the ventral lateral nucleus of the thalamus, which also receives projections from the globus pallidus and the substantia nigra. Recent evidence indicates, however, that none of these projections overlap in the ventral lateral nucleus. The ventral lateral nucleus projects to the primary motor and supplementary motor areas of the cerebral cortex. In turn, the motor cortex and other regions of the cerebrum project to the striatum to enter the basal ganglia circuit. Moreover, the motor cortex projects to the pons to enter the cerebellar circuit, includ... ...c hope. Bibliography: 1. Barbeau, Andre and Fletcher McDowell L-Dopa and Parkinsonism, (F.A. Davis Company, 1970) 2. Calne, Donald B., Parkinsonism: Physiology, Pharmacology and treatment. (Edward Arnold Publishers LTD, 1970) 3. Langston, J. W., MPTP induced Parkinson’s syndrome. Science, Vol. 219, No.2, March 1983, 133-140 4. Pleet, A. B., Newly-diagnosed Parkinson’s disease: a therapeutic update. Geriatrics, Vol. 1, No. 47, January 1992, 24-29 5. Shoushu, Jiao, Long-term correction of rat model of Parkinson’s disease by gene therapy. Nature, Vol. 362, No. 2, April 1, 1993, 450-453. 6. Langston, J. William, The next frontier: Presymptomatic detection. Geriatrics, Aug. 1991: 5-7 7. Jenner, P. Clues to the mechanism underlying dopamine cell death in Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. (1989): 22-28 Parkinson’s Disease Essay -- Medicine Health Biology Research Parkinson’s Disease Parkinson’s disease is a disease with a wide variety of disabilities recognizable as changes in appearance, posture, walking, and balance. In 1817, the English physician James Parkinson described these symptoms in his patients and has had his name become synonymous with the disease. In 1893 the substantia nigra of the basal ganglia was identified as an area of disease for Parkinson’s. Examination with the naked eye reveals a lack of black pigment in this portion of the brainstem. Subsequent follow up with the microscope showed a deterioration of the nerve cells in this area. The circuitous relationship between the substantia nigra and the basal ganglia explains many of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Today the cause of the disease remains unknown, however, the biochemistry is well documented and recently discovered neurotoxins have us hot on the trail of this disease. Portions of the cerebellum are involved in the control of posture and balance and also modulate voluntary movement. The basal ganglia and the cerebellum interact with the cerebral cortex through a series of feedback circuits. The dentate and interpositus nuclei of the cerebellum project to the ventral lateral nucleus of the thalamus, which also receives projections from the globus pallidus and the substantia nigra. Recent evidence indicates, however, that none of these projections overlap in the ventral lateral nucleus. The ventral lateral nucleus projects to the primary motor and supplementary motor areas of the cerebral cortex. In turn, the motor cortex and other regions of the cerebrum project to the striatum to enter the basal ganglia circuit. Moreover, the motor cortex projects to the pons to enter the cerebellar circuit, includ... ...c hope. Bibliography: 1. Barbeau, Andre and Fletcher McDowell L-Dopa and Parkinsonism, (F.A. Davis Company, 1970) 2. Calne, Donald B., Parkinsonism: Physiology, Pharmacology and treatment. (Edward Arnold Publishers LTD, 1970) 3. Langston, J. W., MPTP induced Parkinson’s syndrome. Science, Vol. 219, No.2, March 1983, 133-140 4. Pleet, A. B., Newly-diagnosed Parkinson’s disease: a therapeutic update. Geriatrics, Vol. 1, No. 47, January 1992, 24-29 5. Shoushu, Jiao, Long-term correction of rat model of Parkinson’s disease by gene therapy. Nature, Vol. 362, No. 2, April 1, 1993, 450-453. 6. Langston, J. William, The next frontier: Presymptomatic detection. Geriatrics, Aug. 1991: 5-7 7. Jenner, P. Clues to the mechanism underlying dopamine cell death in Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. (1989): 22-28