Parkinson’s disease is a form of degenerative neurological disease. Parkinson’s symptoms increase in severity as time goes by. It is also considered a progressive, chronic neurologic disease. The disorder gradually becomes worse and does not go away with time. The disorder was named after James Parkinson, an English doctor. Parkinson’s is also sometimes called paralysis agitans, which means shaking palsy in Latin.

In Parkinson’s disease, the neurons of the brain are affected. When the substantia nigra in the neurons start to degenerate, the brain will have a disrupted ability to make the body generate movements, thus causing signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s. These signs include rigidity, tremor, bradykinesia, akinesia, and posture and walking problems.

Individuals suffering from Parkinson’s disease, showing characteristic signs and symptoms of the disorder, are said to have parkinsonism. Not everyone suffering from Parkinson’s disease are said to have parkinsonism, it is only a possibility.