The Neurobiology of Parkinsons Disease Essay -- Biology Essays Resear

The Neurobiology of Parkinsons DiseaseIn neuroscience it is assumed that the underlying nervous system governs and defines all aspects of behavior (Grobstein, 1998). Therefore, the brain, the hub of the central nervous system, is liable for integrating all sensory and motor patterning. To understand the mechanisms of neurobiology it is often useable to observe the nervous system at the level of the neuron. Integration and communicating between neurons is facilitated by neurotransmitters, chemicals which act as intermediaries at the synaptic commotion (Delcomyn, 1998). Many behavioral disorders go through a neurochemical basis, oftentimes associated with abnormal neurotransmitter activity. These abnormalities be thought to stem from interactions between genetics and the environment. One of these disorders is Parkinsons Disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease which is characterized by a deficit in the neurotransmitter dopamine (NHGRI, 1998). Parkinsons Disease affects mo re than a million Americans a course and is distributed equally geographically, in both men and women, and between socio-economic classes (PD sack up, 1998). Although the probability of exploitation the disease is somewhat equal in all populations, recent studies have shown that African-Americans and Asians are less likely to exhibit Parkinsons symptoms than those of European source (PD Web, 1998). It was first formally identified by British physician throng Parkinson in 1817 as The Shaking Palsy, however, it is thought that the disease has been approximately for thousands of days. Described as early as 5000 B.C. in the Indian Ayurvedic medicinal tradition and in the Nei Jing, the first Chinese medical text 2500 years ago, Parkinsons disease has been a constant cha... ...ces Consulted1)Awakenings. 1998. Parkinsons Disease, Treatment Options. http//www.parkinsondisease.com/2)Cosgrove, G.R. 1998. Neurosurgery Web Page. Practical Information Regarding Stereotactic Pallidotomy fo r Parkinsons Disease. http//www.neurosurgery.mgh.harvard.edu/pd-pract.html3)Delcomyn, F. 1998. Foundations of Neurobiology. New York W.H. Freeman and Company. 4)Grobstein, P. 1998. Neurobiology and Behavior Lectures, Bryn Mawr College. 5)National military personnel Genome Research Institute. 1998. Parkinsons Disease- Research News. http//www.genome.gov/DIR/LGDR/PARK2/background_info.html6)National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. NINDS Hope done Research. http//www.ninds.nih.gov/healinfo/disorder/parkinso/pdhtr.htm7)PD Web Parkinsons Disease Website. 1998. http//www.pdweb.mgh.harvard.edu/IntroPD/Intro.html