• Introduction

• Epidemiology

• Symptoms

• Pathology

• Aetiology

• Overview

• Pharmacological

• Other methods

Epidemiology

PD is part of a larger class of so-called "Parkinsonian Disorders". These are all characterised by the same set of physical symptoms — collectively termed "Parkinsonism" — but differ in the underlying pathology. As the name suggests, the disease now thought of as "classical" PD was the first of this type to be described. It is the most common cause of Parkinsonism (about 80% of cases) and may be divided into two further categories.

Cases where the underlying cause of the neurodegeneration has not been established and where there is no clear genetic linkage are described as idiopathic (or sporadic). Such cases (about 95% of those diagnosed as PD) are typically late-onset and display the classical PD symptoms and pathology. The remaining 5% of cases (classified as familial or inherited) have been associated with a family history of the disorder. Many of these have been linked with one or more specific mutations. Familial cases tend to be young-onset (diagnosed below the age of 40) and are sometimes classified as "atypical Parkinsonism".