Parkinson's Disease
"No man has ever been successful in an endeavor for which he felt no passion"
-J.T. 1995-
My grandfather is Joe Kenneth McLemore, he was born June 16, 1938. He has been more like a father than a grandfather to me; I was even named after him. So, in 1995 when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease I was devastated. At the time I knew very little about this disease, most of us don't, it effects less that ½ of 1% of the population. The only thing I knew about Parkinson's Disease was that it made Mrs. Kuykendahl's hand shake so badly that she could not hold up her hymn book in church.
I am choosing Parkinson's Disease as my project because I am passionate about it. It affects someone that is very near and dear to my heart. So I will tell you everything I know about it; how it affects the person afflicted with it, and those around them.
History and Description of the Disease
Parkinson's disease (PD), also known as shaking palsy, was first described in 1917 by James Parkinson. More than a million Americans are afflicted with Parkinson's. The disease mostly affects people over the age of 40, although it can appear in younger patients and one form of PD can strike teenagers.
Parkinson's disease belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders. The four primary symptoms are tremor or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia or slowness of movement; and postural instability or impaired balance and coordination. As these symptoms become more pronounced, patients may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks.
The disease is both chronic, meaning it persists over a long period of time, and progressive, meaning its symptoms grow worse overtime. It is not contagious nor is it usually inherited -- that is, it does not pass directly from one family member or generation to the next.
Parkinson's disease is ...