As we approach the bicentenary of James Parkinson's seminal paper on what he called “shaking palsy”, it is clear that our understanding of Parkinson's disease has become significantly more nuanced (see page S2). Alongside the characteristic physical traits such as rigidity, tremor and shuffling gait, we know of other problems, such as loss of smell and the death of neurons that serve the heart. These symptoms often cause patients more trouble than their motor issues, and they also start earlier. Researchers are now exploring whether these non-motor symptoms might be useful as early diagnostic indicators (S5).
Diagnosis may be advancing, but treatment is still lagging. Deep brain stimulation has been available since the late 1980s and in many patients is very effective at controlling motor problems. But despite decades of research, its mechanisms remain murky (S10).
A clearer understanding of what drives Parkinson's would help in the search for treatments that can slow or halt the disease, and for biomarkers by which to analyse it (S4). One tantalizing suggestion is that Parkinson's is a prion-like condition that is caused by the spread of misfolded proteins in the brain — a theory that has been described as “the single most controversial question in the field right now” (S13).
Technology promises to alter the Parkinson's landscape. Smartphones, packed with sophisticated sensors, make it easy to monitor patients as they navigate the real world, helping physicians make informed treatment decisions (S8).
We thank the editors of npj Parkinson's Disease for their advice regarding the content of this Outlook.
We are pleased to acknowledge financial support from Roche in producing this Outlook. As always, Nature retains sole responsibility for all editorial content.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Related links
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Grayson, M. Parkinson's disease. Nature 538, S1 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/538S1a
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/538S1a
Further reading
-
Identification of ADP/ATP Translocase 1 as a Novel Glycoprotein and Its Association with Parkinson’s Disease
Neurochemical Research (2022)
-
Regulated cell death: discovery, features and implications for neurodegenerative diseases
Cell Communication and Signaling (2021)
-
ADP/ATP translocase 1 protects against an α-synuclein-associated neuronal cell damage in Parkinson’s disease model
Cell & Bioscience (2021)
-
Patients with Parkinson’s disease predict a lower incidence of colorectal cancer
BMC Geriatrics (2021)
-
Dynamic control of mitochondria-associated membranes by kinases and phosphatases in health and disease
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences (2021)
