Parkinson's disease. Illustration of the brain,depicting the neurological disorder of Parkinson's disease. A coronal section through the brain is seen,with two elderly figures in a bent posture superimposed. Parkinson's disease is caused by a degeneration of nerve tissue within the basal ganglia (pink areas,at centre) of the brain. As a result,nerve pathways down the spinal cord are altered. Contracted muscle is prevented from relaxing,causing tremor,joint rigidity,and slow movement. Parkinson's disease affects the elderly. It progresses from a slight hand tremor,to an unbalanced,bent-over,shuffling walk. Treatment includes dopamine drugs. There is no cure |