A Better Understanding of Parkinson's Disease

Whether it affects a friend, a family member, or even a celebrity you have heard about in the news, Parkinson’s disease is an ailment you may feel that you know well. Michael J. Fox was diagnosed in 1991 and through his foundation, became an advocate for patients and researchers fighting the disease. Muhammad Ali was diagnosed in 1984, and it was speculated that the multiple blows to his head could have led to his onset. However, the cause of the disease is still not certain to this day.

How much do you really know about Parkinson’s disease and the researchers advancing therapies for treatment?

In the early 1980s, a few batches of contaminated synthetic heroin triggered severe Parkinson’s disease symptoms among the people who used it. The tragedy led to a new therapy that alleviates some of Parkinson’s most disabling symptoms — deep brain stimulation (DBS).

Click on the icons below to watch, read, and learn more about the past, present, and future of Parkinson’s disease and the research behind it.

About the Author

Kristina Reznikov

Kristina is the former web communications specialist for BrainFacts.org. She formerly worked as the publications director for a legal publications company in Washington, DC.