Parkinsonism

A degenerative nervous disorder occurring mostly in persons older than 60 years characterized in advanced stages by rhythmic muscular tremors especially in the hands and by rigidity of movement a drooping posture slow speech and a masklike facial expression the term designates a set of symptoms and the underlying disease causing these symptoms is most commonly Parkinsons disease Parkinsonism results from a deficiency in the neurotransmitter dopamine caused by degeneration of the cells producing that agent It can be mitigated by chemotherapy with agents such as levodopa 3 hydroxy L tyrosine