Parkinson's in the Brain
Basal ganglia
Substantia
nigra
Parkinson's disease is predominantly a disorder of the basal ganglia.
The basal ganglia is situated in the forebrain.
Forebrain
The basal ganglia is involved in:
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Automatic and voluntary motor control
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Procedural learning relating to routine behaviours
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Emotional functions
In order to ensure the regular movement control and motor behaviour, there must be excellent coordination between the basal ganglia and other cortical areas.
Striatum
The striatum is the largest nuclear complex of the basal ganglia:
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It receives excitatory input from several areas of the cerebral cortex
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It also receives inhibitory and excitatory input from the dopaminergic cells of the substantia nigra
Parkinson's disease is defined by:
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Loss of pigmented dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra
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Occurs most prominently in the ventral lateral substantia nigra
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About 60 - 80% of these neurons are lost before motor symptoms of PD are seen
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Presence of Lewy bodies and Lewy neuritis
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Their prevalence increases with age and are specific to PD
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