The Neurobiology of Parkinsons Disease Essay -- Biology Essays Resear

The Neurobiology of shaking palsy DiseaseIn neuroscience it is assumed that the rudimentary nervous system governs and defines all aspects of behavior (Grobstein, 1998). Therefore, the brain, the hub of the central nervous system, is responsible for integrating all sensory and motor patterning. To understand the mechanisms of neurobiology it is often useful to observe the nervous system at the level of the neuron. integrating and communication between neurons is facilitated by neurotransmitters, chemicals which act as intermediaries at the synaptic gap (Delcomyn, 1998). Many behavioral disorders have a neurochemical basis, oftentimes associated with abnormal neurotransmitter activity. These abnormalities are thought to stem from interactions between genetics and the environment. One of these disorders is paralysis agitans Disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease which is characterized by a deficit in the neurotransmitter dopamine (NHGRI, 1998). Parkinsons Disease affects more than a million Americans a year and is distributed equally geographically, in both men and women, and between socio-economic classes (PD Web, 1998). Although the probability of developing the disease is approximately equal in all populations, recent studies have shown that African-Americans and Asians are less likely to exhibit Parkinsons symptoms than those of European descent (PD Web, 1998). It was first formally set by British physician James Parkinson in 1817 as The Shaking Palsy, however, it is thought that the disease has been around for thousands of years. Described as early as 5000 B.C. in the Indian Ayurvedic medicinal tradition and in the Nei Jing, the first Chinese medical text 2500 years ago, Parkinsons disease has been a constant cha... ...ces Consulted1)Awakenings. 1998. Parkinsons Disease, Treatment Options. http//www.parkinsondisease.com/2)Cosgrove, G.R. 1998. Neurosurgery Web Page. Practical Information Regarding Stereotactic Pallidotomy for Parkinsons Disea se. http//www.neurosurgery.mgh.harvard.edu/pd-pract.html3)Delcomyn, F. 1998. Foundations of Neurobiology. New York W.H. Freeman and Company. 4)Grobstein, P. 1998. Neurobiology and Behavior Lectures, Bryn Mawr College. 5)National Human Genome Research Institute. 1998. Parkinsons Disease- Research News. http//www.genome.gov/DIR/LGDR/PARK2/background_info.html6)National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. NINDS fancy Through Research. http//www.ninds.nih.gov/healinfo/disorder/parkinso/pdhtr.htm7)PD Web Parkinsons Disease Website. 1998. http//www.pdweb.mgh.harvard.edu/IntroPD/Intro.html