Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and often sporadic neurological condition associated with the progressive loss of neurons. It is most common in elderly men older than 60 years of age. Juvenile and early onset Parkinson’s disease is on the rise because of the ever increasing life expectancy in the world’s population. There are two main objectives considered when prescribing drugs to a Parkinson’s disease affected person. The primary being to restore Dopamine receptor function, in the Substantia nigra of the brain, as Dopamine plays a pivotal role in the effective functioning of the brain and nervous system as a whole. It is neurotransmitter that controls the brain’s reward and pleasure centres. It also assists in regulating emotional responses and movement. The secondary objective is to inhibit muscarinic receptors. Doctor James Parkinson released his publication entitled "An Essay on the Shaking Palsy", which recognised Parkinson's disease as a medical condition, in 1817. The essay was based on six cases he had observed in his own practise and on observations made in his community. The purpose of the essay was to encourage others to establish an interest in the disease enough to want to study it further. Some 60 years after it was first published, Jean Martin Charcot followed suit and did exactly that. Jean Martin Charcot was …show more content…
The development of new drugs and an understanding of how to use them effectively in contrast with older drugs have significantly improved the quality of life of people with the disease. Most patients with Parkinson's disease can be adequately treated with drugs that alleviate their symptoms. If medications are not sufficiently effective, new, highly effective and safe surgical treatments are also available. Choices about medications made early in the course of the disease have a strong influence on the long-term course of the