| 1
|
Action
tremor |
a
tremor that increases when the hand/muscle is moving voluntarily.
|
| 2 |
Agonist |
a drug which increases neurotransmitter activity by stimulating
the dopamine receptors directly. |
| 3 |
Akinesia |
no movement; muscular paralysis. |
| 4 |
Anticholinergics |
anti-Parkinson drugs that block the action of acetylcholine,
thereby rebalancing it in relation to dopamine and reducing
rigidity and tremor |
| 5
|
Antihistamines |
drugs that are often used to relieve cold or allergy symptoms
but may also be effective in reducing tremor; many available
as Over-The-Counter pharmaceuticals. |
| 6 |
Bradykinesia |
slowness of all voluntary movement and speech. |
| 7 |
Bradyphrenia
|
slowness of thought processes. |
| 8
|
Delusions
|
a
condition in which the patient has lost touch with reality
and experiences hallucinations and misperceptions despite
evidence that refutes them. |
| 9
|
Dementia
|
progressive
mental disorder characterized by confusion, disorientation,
and personality disintegration. |
| 10 |
Dopamine
|
a naturally occurring neurotransmitter found in the brain
that regulates movement, balance, and walking. It is the
substance that is lost in PD. |
| 11 |
Dopaminergic |
a chemical that works with the same effects as dopamine. |
| 12 |
Dyskinesia
|
abnormal involuntary movements, often due to drug side
effects. |
| 13
|
Dysphagia |
difficulty in swallowing. |
| 14
|
Dystonia
|
a
slow movement or extended spasm in a group of muscles;
commonly involving head, neck, and tongue. |
| 15 |
Edema |
swelling; abnormal accumulation of fluid. |
| 16 |
Freezing |
temporary, involuntary inability to move in patients with
Parkinson's disease. |
| 17
|
Heterogeneous |
unlike; having dissimilar qualities. |
| 18 |
Incontinence |
inability to control urination or defecation. |
| 19 |
Levodopa |
the single most effective anti-Parkinson drug which is
changed into dopamine in the brain usually combined with
carbidopa (a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor) as Sinemet.
|
| 20 |
Lewy
body |
a pink-staining sphere, found in the bodies of dying cells,
that is considered to be a marker for Parkinson's disease.
|
| 21 |
Libido
|
instinctual drive associated with sexual desire, pleasure,
or creativity. |
| 22 |
Micrographia |
a change in handwriting with the script becoming smaller
and more cramped. |
| 23
|
Monoamine
oxidase (MAO) |
an enzyme that breaks down dopamine. There are two types
of MAO "A" and "B." In Parkinson's disease, it is beneficial
to block the activity of MAO B. |
| 24 |
Neurotransmitters |
chemical substances that carry impulses from one nerve
cell to another; found in the space (synapse) that separates
the transmitting neuron's terminal (axon) from the receiving
neuron's terminal (dendrite). |
| 25
|
Nigral
|
of
or referring to the substantia nigra. |
| 26 |
Norepinephrine |
a neurotransmitter found mainly in areas of the brain
that are involved in governing autonomic nervous system
activity; increases blood pressure by vasoconstriction,
but does not affect cardiac output. |
| 27 |
On-off
phenomena |
abrupt changes in performance during the day caused by
the taking effect or wearing off of anti-parkinson drugs.
|
| 28 |
Parkinson's
disease (PD) |
a chronic neurological condition named after Dr. James
Parkinson, a London physician who was the first to describe
the syndrome in 1817. PD is a slowly progressive disease
that affects a small area of cells in the mid brain known
as the substantia nigra. Gradual degeneration of these
cells causes a reduction in a vital chemical known as
"dopamine." This decrease in dopamine is what causes the
symptoms of the disease. |
| 29 |
Resting
tremor |
a tremor of a limb that increases when the limb is at
rest. |
| 30 |
Rigidity |
a condition of hardness, stiffness, or inflexibility of
a limb. |
| 31 |
Spasm |
a condition in which a muscle or group of muscles involuntarily
contracts as in a convulsion or seizure. |
| 32 |
Substantia
nigra |
a small area of the brain containing a cluster of black-pigmented
nerve cells that produce dopamine which is then transmitted
to the striatum. |
| 33 |
Sustention
(postural) tremor |
a tremor of a limb that increases when the limb is stretched.
|
| 34 |
Tremor |
rhythmic, purpose-less, quivering movements of a limb,
head, mouth, tongue, or other part of the body. |
| 35 |
Hoehn
& Yahr stage (H&Y) |
A
score for rating Parkinson's disease |
| 36
|
ADL
(Activities of Daily Living) score |
A score for rating Parkinson's disease based on activities
of daily living |
| 37 |
UPDRS
(Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale |
A scoring system for Parkinson's disease |
