Parkinson's disease is an age-related degenerative brain condition, meaning it causes parts of your brain to deteriorate. It's best known for causing slowed movements, tremors, balance problems and more. Most cases happen for unknown reasons, but some are inherited.

The risk of developing Parkinson's disease naturally increases with age, and the average age at which it starts is 60 years old. It's slightly more common in men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB) than in women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB).

While Parkinson's disease is usually age-related, it can happen in adults as young as 20 (though this is extremely rare, and often people have a parent, full sibling or child with the same condition).

Symptoms

Parkinson's has four main symptoms:

• Tremor in hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head
• Muscle stiffness, where muscle remains contracted for a long time
• Slowness of movement
• Impaired balance and coordination, sometimes leading to falls

Other symptoms may include:

• Depression and other emotional changes
• Difficulty swallowing, chewing, and speaking
• Urinary problems or constipation
• Skin problems

The symptoms of Parkinson's and the rate of progression differ among individuals. Early symptoms of this disease are subtle and occur gradually. For example, people may feel mild tremors or have difficulty getting out of a chair. They may notice that they speak too softly, or that their handwriting is slow and looks cramped or small. Friends or family members may be the first to notice changes in someone with early Parkinson's. They may see that the person's face lacks expression and animation, or that the person does not move an arm or leg normally.

People with Parkinson's disease often develop a parkinsonian gait that includes a tendency to lean forward; take small, quick steps; and reduce swinging their arms. They also may have trouble initiating or continuing movement.

Symptoms often begin on one side of the body or even in one limb on one side of the body. As the disease progresses, it eventually affects both sides. However, the symptoms may still be more severe on one side than on the other.

Many people with Parkinson's disease note that prior to experiencing stiffness and tremor, they had sleep problems, constipation, loss of smell, and restless legs. 

Hope Through Stem Cell Therapy

The landscape of Parkinson's disease treatment stands poised for transformation, with stem cell therapy emerging as a beacon of hope. The inherent understanding of the cellular and cerebral dynamics at play in this condition paves the way for innovative stem cell interventions. Stem cell therapy holds the potential to replace lost nerve cells and incite the genesis of new ones, potentially slowing the onset and progression of the disease.

A recent milestone in this pursuit of hope was realized in a study published in Stem Cell Reports, where Japanese researchers explored stem cell therapy in primates. This groundbreaking research demonstrated remarkable promise, as stem cells, injected directly into the brain, thrived without signs of rejection. Furthermore, the dopamine-producing neurons exhibited robust survival rates.