Parkinson's diseaseParkinson's disease is a “neurodegenerative disorder of the basal ganglia due to insufficient secretion of the neurotransmitter dopamine” (Marieb & Hoehn, 2013, p. G-17) . The cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, but many factors play a role in the development of Parkinson's disease. A factor that was discovered in a person with Parkinson's disease causes excessive activity in the targeted, dopamine-deprived basal ganglia. This overactivity is caused by the degradation of neurons that release dopamine in the substantia nigra (Marieb & Hoehn, 2013). Another factor present in a person with Parkinson's disease is the presence of Lewy bodies in the brainstem ("What is lbd?", 2014). Lewy bodies are unusual clusters of proteins (Hauser, 2014). These groups use all or most of the dopamine secreted, leading to brain dysfunction. When the brain does not function properly due to Lewy bodies, a person may develop symptoms of early Parkinson's disease ("What is lbd?", 2014). As previously stated, the cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, but this is not the case. That's not to say that scientists and researchers haven't tried to find the cause. Along with the degeneration of neurons and the presence of Lewy bodies, it has also been found that there may be problems with mitochondrial proteins (Marieb & Hoehn, 2013). Parkinson's disease affects certain parts of a person's anatomy. Parkinson's disease affects the basal ganglia and pars compacta (Hauser, 2014). The basal ganglia are affected by Parkinson's disease. This starts to not create enough dopamine. Lack of dopamine is one of the main factors in a person developing Parkinson's disease (Marieb & Hoehn, 2013). Lack of dopamine and other factors... middle of paper ...... untreated die within five years, 65 percent of people within 10 years, and about 89 percent within 15 years (Hauser, 2014). Although treatment is available, some people choose not to take it and others cannot afford it. It is the best choice to treat Parkinson's disease if the patient can. This helps a person live as normally as possible for as long as they can.ReferencesDemographics of Parkinson's disease. (2014). Accessed April 5, 2014, from http://www.prokerala.com/health/parkinsons-disease/demographics-of-parkinsons-disease.phpHauser, RA (January 21, 2014). Parkinson's disease. Retrieved April 5, 2014 from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1831191-overview#aw2aab6b2b1aaMarieb, EN and Hoehn, K. (2013). Human anatomy and physiology. (9th ed.). SanFrancisco: PearsonWhat is lbd?. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.lbda.org/category/3437/what-is-lbd.htm