P – R – S – T – U – V – W – Y
Pallidal stimulation – surgical technique where wires with electrodes on their tips are passed into the globus pallidus, and connected to a pacemaker-like device that, once switched on and set, delivers low voltage pulses of electricity to the globus pallidus. This is the equivalent of lesioning, but is not necessarily permanent, i.e., may be removed.
Pallidotomy – surgical technique where the globus pallidus region of the brain is destroyed or modified. It is used to reduce overactivity in this area of the brain, and improve symptoms of PD including levodopa-induced dyskinesia.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) – long-term, progressive movement disorder which involves a loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain.
Parkinsonism – refers to a set of slow movement-related symptoms (tremor, rigidity, etc.) that are common to several conditions (parkinsonian conditions), including PD.
PET scan – positron emission tomography (PET) is a scan that can detect chemicals in the brain. It is sometimes used to produce images (scans) showing the arrangement of dopamine-producing nerve cells.
Postural instability – difficulty with keeping steady body positions such as standing, sitting upright or walking.
Progressive disorder – condition that becomes worse over time.
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) – form of parkinsonism that produces early symptoms such as problems with balance and walking, eye movements, speech and swallowing. It does not respond to medications as well as PD.
Psychosis – type of disorder of the mind that involves a loss of contact with reality, e.g., hallucinations, paranoia.
Rigidity – stiffness.
Schwab & England scale – system that is used to rate a person with PD according to their level of independence. 100% relates to total independence, and this falls to a minimum of 0%, which relates to a state of complete dependence.
SPECT scan – single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a scan that can produce images of the brain. In PD, it is sometimes used to detect dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain.
Substantia nigra – area of the brain where dopamine is produced.
Subthalamic stimulation – surgical technique where wires with electrodes on their tips are passed into the subthalamic nucleus, and connected to a pacemaker-like device that, once switched on and set, delivers low-voltage pulses of electricity to the subthalamic nucleus. This is the equivalent of lesioning, but is not necessarily permanent, i.e., may be removed.
Subthalamotomy – surgical technique in which a small part of the subthalamic nucleus region of the brain is destroyed. It is used to reduce overactivity in this area of the brain, and improve symptoms of PD.
Thalamic stimulation – surgical technique in which wires with electrodes on their tips are passed into the thalamus, and connected to a pacemaker-like device that, once switched on and set, delivers low-voltage pulses of electricity to the thalamus. This is the equivalent of lesioning, but is not necessarily permanent, i.e., may be removed.
Thalamotomy – surgical technique in which a small part of the thalamus region of the brain is destroyed. It reduces overactivity in this area of the brain, and improves symptoms of PD, especially tremor.
Titration – way in which doses of medication are gradually altered to find a dose that is effective, but does not produce unacceptable side effects.
Tremor – rhythmic shaking of part of the body. It is one of the main symptoms of PD, although it does not occur in all cases.
UPDRS scale – scoring system that is used to follow the progression of PD by monitoring a person’s physical and mental abilities, performances in activities of daily living, and the response to treatment.
Vascular parkinsonism – neurological disorder in which the symptoms of parkinsonism are a result of small strokes, rather than a gradual loss of nerve cells.
Wearing off – term used to describe the gradual return of symptoms that occurs at the end of a dose of levodopa.
Young-onset PD – PD that occurs in people aged below 40 or 50 years (10–15% of people with PD are diagnosed before the age of 50). This is more unusual than the form of PD that is found in older people, and displays some different symptoms. Research has shown that young-onset PD may have some family inheritance patterns, especially if the disease is diagnosed before the age of 40.
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