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Parkinson's Disease -
caused by destruction of dopamine secreting cells in the substantia nigra
which send impulses to the caudate nucleus and putamen. The
result is that without these inhibitory impulses, tremor and rigidity occur.
Also akinesia occurs, or lack of the ability to perform willful movements.
Treatments: 1) use of L-dopa which is converted into dopamine in the brain
(eventually the brain resists this); 2) transplanted fetal dopamine cells and
genetically engineered dopamine cells; 3) the use of the MAO inhibitor
Deprenyl. MAO (mono amine oxidase) is the chemical which breaks down
dopamine); growth factors which stimulate recovery or block deterioration of
the dopamine cells.
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