Parkinson's Disease
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Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson’s disease (PD) belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders. It is a neurodegenerative disease which is the most common cause of parkinsonism, or the akinetic-rigid syndrome. Parkinson’s disease is recognized by the presence of at least three of four cardinal signs:
- Resting tremor
- Cogwheel Rigidity (muscle stiffness)
- Bradykinesia (slowness of movement)
- Akinesia (absence of movement)
- Postural instability
Parkinson’s disease affects approximately 1.5 million people in the United States and 35,000 in Michigan. Although it most commonly affects people over age 60, Parkinson’s disease can occur as early as age 20 (Michigan Parkinson Foundation, 2026).