Parkinson disease

Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD)

Primary parkinsonism
Paralysis agitans
Shaking palsy
Parkinson's disease

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* This condition is not a rare disease. It is a condition about which the GARD Information Center has received a question.

Parkinson disease *
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Parkinson's disease (PD) belongs to a group of conditions called movement disorders. The four main symptoms are tremor, or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head; rigidity, or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia, or slowness of movement; and postural instability, or impaired balance. These symptoms usually begin gradually and worsen with time. As they become more pronounced, patients may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks. Not everyone with one or more of these symptoms has PD, as the symptoms sometimes appear in other diseases as well.^[2] PD affects about 1 to 2 percent of people over the age of 60 years and the chance of developing PD increases as we age.^[1] Although some PD cases appear to be hereditary, and a few can be traced to specific genetic mutations, most cases are sporadic — that is, the disease does not seem to run in families. Many researchers now believe that PD results from a combination of genetic susceptibility and exposure to one or more environmental factors that trigger the disease.^[2]

References

Learning about Parkinson Disease. National Human Genome Research Institute. May 27, 2008 Available at: http://www.genome.gov/10001217. Accessed October 7, 2008.
Parkinson's Disease: Hope Through Research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. September 17, 2008 Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/parkinsons_disease/detail_parkinsons_disease.htm#127443159. Accessed October 7, 2008.

Questions & Answers

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For more information about Parkinson disease click on the boxes below:

More Detailed Information	NLM Gateway	Medical Products	Services	Support Groups

General \| Management Guidelines
More Detailed Information (Found 2 resources) Links where you can find more general information, comprehensive resources, selected full text journal articles, and news updates General The National Human Genome Research Institute's (NHGRI) mission encompasses a broad range of studies aimed at understanding the structure and function of the human genome and its role in health and disease. Click on the link to view the information page on this topic. Management Guidelines GeneReviews provides current, expert-authored, peer-reviewed, full-text articles describing the application of genetic testing to the diagnosis, management, and genetic counseling of patients with specific inherited conditions. Click on the link to view the article on this topic.

General | Management Guidelines

More Detailed Information (Found 2 resources)
Links where you can find more general information, comprehensive resources, selected full text journal articles, and news updates

General
- The National Human Genome Research Institute's (NHGRI) mission encompasses a broad range of studies aimed at understanding the structure and function of the human genome and its role in health and disease. Click on the link to view the information page on this topic.
Management Guidelines
- GeneReviews provides current, expert-authored, peer-reviewed, full-text articles describing the application of genetic testing to the diagnosis, management, and genetic counseling of patients with specific inherited conditions. Click on the link to view the article on this topic.


NLM Gateway (Found 1 resource) A tool to search across multiple resources offered on the National Library of Medicine's Website NLM Gateway allows users to search many resources offered on the National Library of Medicine's Web site at once to quickly find more information about this condition. Some of the resources may be a duplicate of the resources listed on this page. To search NLM Gateway, click on the link; the condition name will already be in the search box, so you can just click the “Search” button.

NLM Gateway (Found 1 resource)
A tool to search across multiple resources offered on the National Library of Medicine's Website

- NLM Gateway allows users to search many resources offered on the National Library of Medicine's Web site at once to quickly find more information about this condition. Some of the resources may be a duplicate of the resources listed on this page. To search NLM Gateway, click on the link; the condition name will already be in the search box, so you can just click the “Search” button.

Medical Products (Found 2 resources)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

The Office of Orphan Products Development (OOPD)

The medications listed in the table below have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of this condition. The FDA Office of Orphan Products Development designates "orphan products" for those that treat rare diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans. The table below may not be an exhaustive list of drugs or products used to treat this condition. There may be other products available that are not considered orphan products. To search all FDA approved drugs, visit Drugs@FDA You can find orphan products used to treat other conditions by searching the Orphan Drug Product Designation database.

Generic Name	Trade Name (Manufacturer Name)	Indication	Resources
Apomorphine HCL	Apokyn® (Ipsen Limited)	For the acute, intermittent treatment of hypomobility, "off" episodes ("end-of-dose-wearing-off" and unpredictable :on/off" episodes) associated with advanced Parkinson's disease	Daily Med MedlinePlus
Selegiline HCl	Eldepryl (Somerset Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)	As an adjuvant to levodopa and carbidopa treatment of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (paralysis agitans), postencephalitic Parkinsonism, and symptomatic Parkinsonism.	MedlinePlus

Ask-an-Expert \| Healthcare Professional Online Directory \| Testing
Services (Found 3 resources) Links to Web sites that offer services, such as tools to locate specialists, specialty clinics, genetic services, and genetic testing laboratories Ask-an-Expert National Parkinson Foundation's Discussion Corner is a place where you can ask questions about Parkinson disease, connect with Parkinson patients and caregivers. Healthcare Professional Online Directory The National Parkinson Foundation can help you find resources, such as support groups, outreach centers, or physicians in your area, across the country, or internationally. Testing GeneTests lists laboratories offering clinical genetic testing for this condition. Clinical genetic tests are ordered to help diagnose a person or family and to aid in decisions regarding medical care or reproductive issues. Talk to your health care provider or a genetic professional to learn more about your testing options.

Ask-an-Expert | Healthcare Professional Online Directory | Testing

Services (Found 3 resources)
Links to Web sites that offer services, such as tools to locate specialists, specialty clinics, genetic services, and genetic testing laboratories

Ask-an-Expert
- National Parkinson Foundation's Discussion Corner is a place where you can ask questions about Parkinson disease, connect with Parkinson patients and caregivers.
Healthcare Professional Online Directory
- The National Parkinson Foundation can help you find resources, such as support groups, outreach centers, or physicians in your area, across the country, or internationally.
Testing
- GeneTests lists laboratories offering clinical genetic testing for this condition. Clinical genetic tests are ordered to help diagnose a person or family and to aid in decisions regarding medical care or reproductive issues. Talk to your health care provider or a genetic professional to learn more about your testing options.

Umbrella Organizations \| Disease-Specific Organizations \| Live Chat/E-mail Lists \| Parent Matching Organizations
Support Groups (Found 6 resources) Groups providing a wide range of services, supportive resources, and information Umbrella Organizations Genetic Alliance 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW Suite 404 Washington, DC 20008-2369 Telephone: 202-966-5557 Fax: 202-966-8553 E-mail: info@geneticalliance.org Web site: http://www.geneticalliance.org National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) 55 Kenosia Avenue PO Box 1968 Danbury, CT 06813-1968 Toll-free: 1-800-999-6673 (voicemail only) Telephone: 203-744-0100 TTY: 203-797-9590 Fax: 203-798-2291 E-mail: orphan@rarediseases.org Web site: http://www.rarediseases.org/ Disease-Specific Organizations National Parkinson Foundation, Inc. 1501 N.W. 9th Avenue / Bob Hope Road Miami, Florida 33136-1494 Telephone: (305) 243-6666 Toll Free National: 1-800-327-4545 Fax: (305) 243-5595 Email: contact@parkinson.org Web site: http://www.parkinson.org/ Live Chat/E-mail Lists The National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD) has partnered with Inspire.com to launch an online community for people with rare diseases called The NORD Rare Disease Community. This community connects medical patients, family members, caregivers, and professionals. Click on The NORD Rare Disease Community to learn more. RareShare is an online social hub dedicated to patients, families and healthcare professionals affected by rare medical disorders. Click on RareShare to learn more. Parent Matching Organizations Madisons Foundation P.O. Box 241956 Los Angeles, CA 90024 Telephone: 310-264-0826 Fax: 310-264-4766 E-mail: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org Web site: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org/

Umbrella Organizations | Disease-Specific Organizations | Live Chat/E-mail Lists | Parent Matching Organizations

Support Groups (Found 6 resources)
Groups providing a wide range of services, supportive resources, and information

Umbrella Organizations
- Genetic Alliance
  4301 Connecticut Avenue NW
  Suite 404
  Washington, DC 20008-2369
  Telephone: 202-966-5557
  Fax: 202-966-8553
  E-mail: info@geneticalliance.org
  Web site: http://www.geneticalliance.org
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
  55 Kenosia Avenue
  PO Box 1968
  Danbury, CT 06813-1968
  Toll-free: 1-800-999-6673 (voicemail only)
  Telephone: 203-744-0100
  TTY: 203-797-9590
  Fax: 203-798-2291
  E-mail: orphan@rarediseases.org
  Web site: http://www.rarediseases.org/
Disease-Specific Organizations
- National Parkinson Foundation, Inc.
  1501 N.W. 9th Avenue / Bob Hope Road
  Miami, Florida 33136-1494
  Telephone: (305) 243-6666
  Toll Free National: 1-800-327-4545
  Fax: (305) 243-5595
  Email: contact@parkinson.org
  Web site: http://www.parkinson.org/
Live Chat/E-mail Lists
- The National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD) has partnered with Inspire.com to launch an online community for people with rare diseases called The NORD Rare Disease Community. This community connects medical patients, family members, caregivers, and professionals. Click on The NORD Rare Disease Community to learn more.
- RareShare is an online social hub dedicated to patients, families and healthcare professionals affected by rare medical disorders. Click on RareShare to learn more.
Parent Matching Organizations
- Madisons Foundation
  P.O. Box 241956
  Los Angeles, CA 90024
  Telephone: 310-264-0826
  Fax: 310-264-4766
  E-mail: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org
  Web site: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org/

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