Categories of Parkinson's disease
Primary parkinsonism occurs most often, usually in people over 50 years old; its cause is unknown. When someone younger than 40 is diagnosed with primary parkinsonism, it is called juvenile parkinsonism.
Postencephalitic parkinsonism can occur after a person has encephalitis (brain infection).
Drug-induced (iatrogenic) parkinsonism can result from taking antipsychotic phenothiazine medications. It is reversible.
Secondary parkinsonism results from trauma to the substantia nigra. This can be striatonigral degeneration, in which other areas of the brain show damage as well as the substantia nigra. It can also be arteriosclerotic parkinsonism, which involves damage to brain vessels due to multiple small strokes.
Parkinsonism that accompanies other conditions, sometimes called pseudoparkinsonism, can occur. People with disorders such as Huntington's disease or Alzheimer's disease may show parkinson-like symptoms.
Toxin-induced parkinsonism comes from toxins (poisons) such as manganese dust, carbon disulfide, and carbon monoxide. This is not reversible like the drug-induced disorder.
Feature article on Parkinson's on this site.
You can also link to the page of Parkinson's disease links on this site for resources.
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