In 1817, James Parkinson, an English surgeon interested in geology and paleontology, published his Essay on agitating paralysis. It describes a condition that would later bear his name: Parkinson's Disease.
It is a disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement. It occurs when the neurons do not produce enough dopamine, a substance very important for the functioning of the brain.
Many areas of the brain are involved in the development of Parkinson's disease. However, the most frequent symptoms occur as a result of the loss of neurons in an area of the brain known as the substantia nigra. "Studies show that most people with Parkinson have lost 60 to 80 percent or more of the dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra at the time of onset of symptoms."
Parkinson's disease is chronic and incurable, that is, it persists and its symptoms get worse over time. Generally, they begin slowly on one side of the body, then affect both. Symptoms include tremors in the face, jaw, hands, arms and legs; slowness in movements; problems of balance and coordination; and stiffness in the limbs and trunk.
Although it was described in that year, there are known references to diseases with similar symptoms in Egyptian, biblical documents, from classical India, in texts by Galen, among others.
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