Disease Information for Parkinsonian syndrome: Definition

Clinical state, usually drug induced, characterized by tremors, muscle rigidity, postural reflex dysfunction, and akinesia; Compare PARKINSONS DISEASE------------------------------Parkinson"s Disease; Drug-Induced Parkinsonism;

Paralysis Agitans; Parkinsonism; Postencephalitic Parkinsonism; Secondary Parkinsonism; Shaking Palsy;

Symptomatic Parkinsonism; Parkinson"s disease is a slowly progressive neurologic condition characterized by involuntary trembling (tremor), muscular stiffness or inflexibility (rigidity), slowness of movement and difficulty carrying out voluntary movements; Degenerative changes occur in areas deep within the brain (substantia nigra and other pigmented regions of the brain), causing a decrease in dopamine levels in the brain; Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, which is a chemical that sends a signal in the brain; Parkinsonian symptoms can also develop secondary to hydrocephalus (a condition in which the head is enlarged and areas of the brain accumulate excessive fluids, resulting in an increase in pressure on the brain), head trauma, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), obstructions (infarcts) or tumors deep within the cerebral hemispheres and the upper brain stem (basal ganglia), or exposure to certain drugs and toxins; Parkinson"s disease is slowly progressive and may not become incapacitating for many years---------[nord 2005]-----------

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