Parkinsons Disease CNS - Degenerative

Pathology Cell death in cerebrum and midbrain Etiology Oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, programmed cell death Speed of Onset Chronic Signs and Symptoms Affect Depression is common Cognition Dementia and psychosis late in the disease Consciousness Alterations in sleep/wake cycles cause excessive daytime sleepiness Communication and Memory Normal; dementia may occur in late stages Sensory Normal Autonomic Constipation, orthostatic hypotension, thermal dysregulation, bladder and sexual dysfunction Motor Hypokinesia; rigidity; stooped posture; shuffling gait; difficulty initiating movements, turning, and stopping; resting tremor; visuoperceptive movement blocks; freezing during movements; decreased postural control. Region Affected Basal ganglia nuclei in cerebrum and midbrain Demographics Onset typically between 50 and 65 years of age; men and women affected equally Prognosis Progressive; average life span after diagnosis is 13 years; death usually by heart disease or infection