Parkinson's Disease Terms

Bradykinesia

Impaired ability to adjust the body’s position characterized by the slowed ability to start and continue movements.

Conjugate gaze

The eyes operate together as if they were joined.

Electromyography (EMG)

An instrument that converts the electrical activity associated with functioning skeletal muscle into a visual record or sound. It has been used in biofeedback training and to diagnose neuromuscular disorders.

Encephalitis Lethargica

A viral encephalitis in which somnolence is marked. It was an epidemic between 1917 and 1926.

Festinating Gait

Involuntary acceleration while walking.

Hallervorden-Spatz

A disorder characterized by dystonia with other extrapyramidal dysfunctions appearing in the first two decades of life; associated with large amounts of iron in the globus pallidus and substantia nigra.

Insidious (Onset)

When onset of disease is subtle and stealthy.

Kyphosis

A rounded upper back due to the thoracic spinal column being overly exaggerated in an outward manner.

Lewy Body

Laminated, round bodies found in vacuoles in the cytoplasm of some neurons of the midbrain in Parkinson Disease.

“Off Time”

When medications do not control PD symptoms.

They can occur before a medication has had time to work or when it has worn off from previous doses.

“On Time”

When symptoms of PD are controlled successfully by medications.

Paresthesias

A sensation of pricking, tingling or creeping on the skin having no objective cause and usually associated with injury or irritation of a sensory nerve or nerve root.

Postural Instability

When a person cannot keep their body balanced/stable.

Saccadic Eye Movements

Small, rapid jerky movements of the eye, when attempting to change point of focus.

Scoliosis

A lateral curvature of the spine due to unequal distribution of rigidity in the trunk.

Striatonigral Degeneration

Deterioration of the connection between the corpus striatum and substantia nigra which work together for movement and balance.

Substantia Nigra

One of the movement control centers in the brain where loss of dopamine-producing cells trigger PD symptoms.

Wilson’s Disease

A potentially fatal genetic defect that causes copper poisoning due to excess buildup of copper in the liver or brain.