Parkinson's Disease

Question 1

Define Parkinson’s disease

Answer 1

Progressive degeneration of the nervous system characterised by tremors and muscle rigidity

Question 2

Where does the disease begin?

Answer 2

Malfunction and deterioration of substantia Nigra

Question 3

What is the substantia Nigra?

Answer 3

Composed of nerve cells that release dopamine

Question 4

What is dopamine?

Answer 4

Neurotransmitter involved in smooth, coordinated voluntary movements

Question 5

What happens when substantia Nigra deteriorates?

Answer 5

Ability to produce dopamine is impaired

Question 6

Why does the treatment L-dopa have only short term effects

Answer 6

Due to low levels of GABA as well

Question 7

What’s the aim of GABA

Answer 7

Inhibit the neurons from firing

Question 8

Link between GABA and Parkinson’s disease

Answer 8

GABA aims to inhibit neuron from firing and a symptom of PD is involuntary tremors so there obviously isn’t enough GABA in the body to inhibit these neurons from firing and causing these tremors