An estimated 50,000 adults in this country are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) each year. What is different with PD than other chronic health conditions is that it often strikes when people are in the prime of their life. Adults with the disease frequently have young children at home and a full-time career.

Understanding Parkinson’s Disease

While most people have heard of Parkinson’s, how challenging the disease can be isn’t as widely understood. PD is a neurodegenerative disease that results when the body ceases to produce the amount of dopamine it needs. Dopamine is a chemical our body requires to swiftly and smoothly relay messages back and forth between the brain and the body. That relay is necessary for smooth muscle movements. [Read more…]