Awareness and current knowledge of Parkinson's disease: a neurodegenerative disorder

Abstract

Context: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second common progressive neurodegenerative disease, distressing older men and is prevalent Worldwide.

Objectives: This article is aimed to review the epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, diagnosis and management of PD.

Methods: A google search was performed to recognise studies that review the characteristics of PD. Search terms included 'Parkinson's disease', 'epidemiology', 'etiology', 'pathogenesis', 'clinical manifestations', 'diagnosis' and 'management of Parkinson disease'.

Results: PD is linked to factors such as environmental chemicals, aging, family history and pesticide exposure such as the use of synthetic heroin. PD is characterised clinically by tremors at rest, postural instability, expressionless countenance, lead pipe rigidity and less commonly cognitive impairment. After 60 years of age, PD is commonly prevalent in 1-% of the population, no racial differences are apparent, but the prevalence of PD is more common in men than women. There has also been a better understanding that the disorder may be linked with major non-motor trouble in addition to the additional generally recognised motor complications. There are various management options for the timely management of PD. As the ailment advances, further management strategies are existing; however, the management of non-motor manifestations and late stage motor complications remains mainly testing and will advantage from additional clinical studies.

Conclusions: In this article, we have discussed current progress in the understanding of the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, pathogenesis and management strategies of the disease.

Keywords: Parkinson’s disease; dopaminergic pathways; motor system; neostriatum; substantia nigra pars compacta.