Affiliation:
1. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt
2. Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Department for Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1A-1210, Vienna, Austria
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting 1% of the population above sixty years. It is caused by an interaction between genetic and environmental risk factors. Loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) is pathologically characterizing the disease and responsible for the cardinal motor symptoms, most notably, bradykinesia, rest tremors, rigidity, and loss of postural reflexes. Non-motor signs such as olfactory deficits, cognitive impairment, sleep behavior disorders, and gastrointestinal disturbances are reflecting disturbances in the non-dopaminergic system. They precede dopaminergic neuronal degenerations by 5–10 years and are considered the main contributors to patients’ disability, particularly after the successful implementation of levodopa (L-dopa) treatment of motor symptoms. The present general review aimed to briefly update non-motor signs and their underlying pathophysiology in PD.
Publisher
Open Exploration Publishing
Subject
Polymers and Plastics,Chemical Engineering (miscellaneous),General Engineering,General Materials Science,Electrical and Electronic Engineering,Materials Chemistry,Polymers and Plastics,Biomedical Engineering,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment,General Chemistry,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials,Materials Chemistry,Polymers and Plastics,Materials Chemistry,Polymers and Plastics,Ceramics and Composites,Materials Chemistry,Polymers and Plastics,General Chemistry,Polymers and Plastics,General Chemical Engineering,General Chemistry,General Engineering,Polymers and Plastics,Organic Chemistry