parkinson's disease affects the way you move. it happens when there is a problem with certain nerve cells in the brain. normally these nerve cells make an important chemical called dopamine. dopamine sends signals to the part of your brain that controls movement. it lets your muscles move smoothly and do what you want them to do. when you have parkinson’s these nerve cells break down. then you no longer have enough dopamine and you have trouble moving the way you want to. parkinson’s is progressive which means it gets worse over time. but usually this happens slowly over a period of many years. and there are good treatments that can help you live a full life. webmd medical reference from healthwise this information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information. © 1995-2011 healthwise incorporated. healthwise healthwise for every health decision and the healthwise logo are trademarks of healthwise incorporated.
what is parkinson's disease?