Parkinsonian Diseases is a term used to describe a group of neurological disorders that affect movement. The spelling of the word Parkinsonian is based on its origins from the name of James Parkinson, an English doctor who first described the symptoms of the disease. The IPA phonetic transcription of the word is /pɑrkɪnsɵnizən/ which shows the pronunciation of the word using symbols that represent the sounds of the word. The correct spelling of medical terms is crucial to ensure accurate communication in the field of medicine.
Parkinsonian diseases, also known as Parkinsonism or parkinsonian syndrome, refer to a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the presence of symptoms similar to those of Parkinson's disease. These diseases result from the progressive degeneration and death of dopamine-producing cells in the brain, particularly in the substantia nigra, a region involved in movement control.
The hallmark features of Parkinsonian diseases include a range of motor symptoms such as bradykinesia (slowness of movement), rigidity (stiffness of muscles), resting tremors, and postural instability. These symptoms are caused by an imbalance in dopamine levels due to the loss of dopaminergic neurons.
Parkinsonian diseases can be classified into primary or secondary forms. Primary Parkinsonism refers to idiopathic cases with unknown causes, primarily including Parkinson's disease. Secondary parkinsonism, on the other hand, arises from external factors or medical conditions such as drug-induced parkinsonism, post-encephalitic parkinsonism, or parkinsonism as a result of traumatic brain injury, infections, or brain tumors.
While Parkinson's disease is the most common and well-known form of parkinsonism, other parkinsonian diseases include multiple system atrophy (MSA), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and Lewy body dementia (LBD).
Treatment for parkinsonian diseases primarily revolves around managing symptoms. This can involve pharmacological interventions aimed at increasing dopamine levels or other symptomatic approaches such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) may also be considered for individuals with advanced parkinsonian diseases to alleviate symptoms.
The term "Parkinsonian diseases" is derived from the medical condition known as Parkinson's disease, which was named after Dr. James Parkinson. The etymology of "Parkinson" originates from Dr. Parkinson's last name, who first described the symptoms of the disease in his essay titled "An Essay on the Shaking Palsy" published in 1817. Over time, the term has been expanded to include a group of related movement disorders that share similar symptoms to Parkinson's disease, such as Parkinsonism, Parkinson's syndrome, or Parkinsonian syndrome. Therefore, the term "Parkinsonian diseases" refers to a broader spectrum of disorders that exhibit symptoms akin to Parkinson's disease.