Parkinson's disease: First of two parts

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 339; no. 15; pp. 1044 - 1053
• Main Authors: LANG, A. E, LOZANO, A. M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 08.10.1998
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cell Death; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Diagnosis, Differential; Diagnostic Imaging; Humans; Lewy Bodies - pathology; Medical sciences; Neurology; Parkinson Disease - diagnosis; Parkinson Disease - etiology; Parkinson Disease - pathology; Parkinson Disease - physiopathology; Human; Nervous system diseases; Biochemical analysis; Pathophysiology; Parkinson disease; Review; Anatomy; Cerebral disorder; Central nervous system disease; Degenerative disease; Clinical investigation; Diagnosis; Extrapyramidal syndrome
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199810083391506

More than 180 years ago, James Parkinson first described the disorder that bears his name, and 30 years ago levodopa, still the most effective therapy, was introduced. Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder of unknown cause that affects over 1 million people in North America. Age is the single most consistent risk factor, and with the increasing age of the general population, the prevalence of Parkinson's disease will rise steadily in the future. The impact of the disease is indicated by the fact that mortality is two to five times as high among affected persons as among age matched controls, resulting in a marked reduction in life expectancy. In fact, neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson's disease, motor neuron disease, and dementia) are projected to surpass cancer as the second most common cause of death among the elderly by the year 2040. Thus, Parkinson's disease greatly shortens life as well as causing debility during life.