National Parkinson’s Day – April 11

Parkinson's disease, often just called Parkinson’s, is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement. It occurs when the cells in the brain that produce dopamine, a chemical responsible for controlling movements, begin to die. The loss of dopamine leads to the hallmark symptoms of Parkinson’s, including tremors, stiffness, slowness of movement, and balance problems.

But how did this condition come to be known as Parkinson’s disease? The first clear description of the disease was made by British physician James Parkinson in 1817. He published a paper titled "An Essay on the Shaking Palsy," where he identified the symptoms and characteristics of the disease. James Parkinson’s observations were groundbreaking at the time, and his work laid the foundation for future studies on the disorder.

Although James Parkinson is credited with the first description of the disease, it wasn’t until French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot’s work in the 19th century that the disease was officially recognized as a distinct medical condition. Charcot, considered the father of modern neurology, expanded on Parkinson’s findings and added his own observations, linking the disease to the progressive degeneration of the nervous system.

Charcot’s contributions were significant in shaping our understanding of Parkinson’s, and he made major strides in identifying its causes and symptoms. His research helped establish Parkinson’s disease as a major neurological disorder that needed serious attention from the medical community. Today, Charcot’s work remains foundational in neurology and is still referenced in scientific studies on Parkinson’s.