Parkinson’s disease is a progressive and debilitating disorder caused by a loss of nerve cells in a particular region of the brain called the substantia nigra. These nerve cells produce a crucial chemical called dopamine, which helps control and coordinate body movements.
When the nerve cells in this part of the brain become damaged or die, the amount of dopamine in the brain is reduced. This leads to symptoms such as slowed movement and tremors or shaking in the hands, arms, legs or jaw.