Paralysis agitans
Paralysis Agitans
Paralysis agitans (/pəˈrælɪsɪs ædʒɪtænz/), also known as Parkinson's disease, is a long-term degenerative disorder of the nervous system that mainly affects the motor system. The symptoms generally come on slowly over time, and early in the disease, the most obvious symptoms are shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement, and difficulty with walking.
Etymology
The term "paralysis agitans" is derived from the Latin paralysis, meaning "paralysis," and agitans, meaning "shaking." This term was used in the early 19th century to describe the condition, before it was officially named Parkinson's disease after the British doctor James Parkinson, who first described the condition in detail.
Symptoms
The primary symptoms of paralysis agitans include bradykinesia (slowness of movement), tremor at rest, and muscle rigidity. Non-motor symptoms, which include autonomic dysfunction, neuropsychiatric problems (mood, cognition, behavior or thought alterations), and sensory (especially altered sense of smell) and sleep difficulties, are also significant.
Causes
The cause of paralysis agitans is generally unknown, but believed to involve both genetic and environmental factors. A small proportion of cases, however, can be attributed to known genetic factors. Other risk factors are believed to include head injuries, pesticide exposure, and a history of smoking.
Treatment
While there is no cure for paralysis agitans, treatment aims to improve the quality of life and physical function. This is generally achieved with a combination of medications, physical therapy, and sometimes surgery.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Paralysis agitans
- Wikipedia's article - Paralysis agitans
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski