With the onset of Parkinson’s disease, the brain’s nerve cells tend to break down and, slowly or rapidly, die out as time progresses. Most of the symptoms associated with this disease are a result of the loss of neurons that are essential to producing dopamine, which performs the task of a chemical messenger from the brain to the other parts of the body. When there is a fall in the dopamine levels, the brain activity becomes abnormal and, consequently, results in the manifestation of symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease.

Risk factors
The cause of Parkinson’s disease is still unknown, but researchers have found that several factors constitute a role in the formation of this condition:

• Genetics : A variety of specific genetic mutations have been identified as triggers for Parkinson’s disease. This occurrence is quite uncommon, except in cases where many members of a family are affected by this disease. Researchers have identified that certain types of gene variations are evident in individuals who are at an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s, but the level of risk is relatively small for each of the individual markers.
• Environmental triggers : There are chances that a person exposed to a certain toxin or specific environmental factors is at a greater risk of developing this disease, but the level of risk assessment has shown that the risk here is also quite less.

Symptoms
One of the most evident factors is that the brain undergoes a wide level of transformation as a result of Parkinson’s disease, and there is no research that has been able to pinpoint why these changes occur. Some of the evident changes identified are:

• A presence of Lewy bodies : When the brain cells of a person affected by Parkinson’s disease are studied on the microscope, certain clumps known as Lewy bodies that carry specific substances have been identified. Researchers feel that these bodies are the very clue to unraveling the mystery behind this disease.
• The presence of Alpha-synuclein : While there seems to be quite a lot of substance types within the Lewy bodies, there is one majorly evident natural and widespread protein in the form of a-synuclein, also known as alpha-synuclein. This is a common element found in all the Lewy bodies and allows for the clumping that does not, in turn, allow these cells to break down. One of the most important parts of any Parkinson’s disease study today is this element.

Complications
The complications that arise as a result of Parkinson’s disease begin as unnoticeable symptoms, which then manifest themselves severely over time and overtake the individual’s body, leading to hardships in routine life. Some of the most common complications are:

• Thinking difficulties, emotional changes, and depression
• Problems with swallowing and chewing
• Bladder issues and constipation
• Sleep-associated disorders

There are also other complications that may arise when the disease reaches chronic levels, and these include constantly erratic blood pressure changes, fatigue, smell dysfunction, pain, and sexual dysfunction.