Parkinson's disease
Short definition
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, characterised mainly by slowness of movement, resting tremor and rigidity, frequently accompanied by non-motor symptoms.
In plain language
It results mainly from the loss of dopamine-producing neurons. Beyond motor symptoms, it can cause changes in balance and gait, sleep, mood, cognition and the autonomic nervous system. Care combines medication, exercise, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy.