Parkinson Disease is a common, chronic neurological condition first described in 1817, which afflicts more than 1.5 million Americans, and at least one out of every 100 people over the age of 60. It is caused by a deterioration of certain brain cells, which in turn causes a reduction in a vital chemical in the brain called "dopamine."
Symptoms include resting tremors, slowness of movement, stiffness of limbs, problems with gait or balance, depression and other problems with movement or speech. While there is no cure, effective treatments are available.
Theda Clark Medical Center and the Neuroscience Group of Northeast Wisconsin are the American Parkinson Disease Association Regional Information & Referral Center for people living in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This is one of approximately 50 such information and referral centers around the country.
The purpose of the Information & Referral Center is to provide information about this disease to patients throughout the region, and to refer them to physicians who specialize in treating patients with Parkinson Disease.
A toll-free number has been established for patients seeking further information or physician referrals from the Parkinson Disease Information & Referral Center - 1-888-797-2732