Understanding Parkinson's Disease: Pathophysiology & Key Changes

Pathophysiology studies the changes in an organ or tissue caused by a disease or other medical conditions. Parkinson's disease is marked by the loss of a certain kind of brain cell and the development of unusual areas of protein in the brain.

Dopamine

• In Parkinson's disease, cells in the brain that produce the neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) dopamine die or stop working, according to Medline Plus.

Features

• It has not been determined precisely what causes dopamine-producing cells to die, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, it is known that the loss of these cells leads to a lack of muscle control, according to Medline Plus.

Theories

• Some theories for the loss of dopamine-producing cells in Parkinson's disease include aging (cells are lost naturally over time), exposure to neurotoxins (chemicals that kills brain cells) and a possible genetic predisposition, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Lewy Bodies

• Lewy bodies are unusual deposits of the protein synuclein, which develop in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra, according to the University of Minnesota Department of Neurology.

Considerations

• There are only a few cases of Parkinson's disease in which Lewy bodies do not develop, according to Merck Manuals. Lewy bodies are also found in a number of other neurological diseases, according to the University of Minnesota Department of Neurology.