Handbook of Parkinson's Disease

A degenerative condition of the central nervous system, which affects the motor system, is called Parkinson's disease (PD). The symptoms of this disease are mostly with respect to motor abilities and expressed in terms of rigidity, shaking, difficulty in walking and slowness of movement. These motor difficulties are collectively termed as 'parkinsonism'. When parkinsonism occurs with no identifiable cause, it is termed as 'idiopathic parkinsonism'. When neurodegenerative disorders occur with parkinsonism, it may termed as 'atypical parkinsonism'. These include dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy, corticobasal degeneration, etc. Some of the identifiable causes of Parkinson's disease include infections, exposure to toxins, side effects of drugs, brain lesions and metabolic derangement. This book provides comprehensive insights into Parkinson's disease. While understanding the long-term perspectives of the topics, the book makes an effort in highlighting their impact in advancing the understanding of this disease. It is appropriate for students seeking detailed information in this area as well as for experts.