Parkinsonism is any condition that causes a combination of the movement abnormalities seen in Parkinson's disease — such as tremor, slow movement, impaired speech or muscle stiffness — especially resulting from the loss of dopamine-containing nerve cells (neurons).
Symptoms
- difficulty showing facial expressions
- muscle stiffness
- slowed, affected movements
- speech changes
- tremor, especially of one hand
- dementia
- issues with the autonomic nervous system, such as problems with controlled movements or spasms
- early problems with balance
- rapid onset and progression of symptoms
Treatment
One of the most commonly prescribed medications to treat Parkinson’s disease is levodopa. This medication is related to dopamine and can increase the amount of dopamine available in the brain.
