Health Topics
Official websites use .gov
A
.gov website belongs to an official government
organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A
lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
Overview
In Parkinson disease, the production of a brain chemical called dopamine becomes irregular and inadequate, and nerve cells cannot properly transmit messages. This results in the loss of muscle function.
By providing an even, adequate supply of medication that the body converts into dopamine, neurons are able to transmit messages, and tremors decrease.
Review Date 3/31/2024
Updated by: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.