Speech in Parkindon's disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, trailing only behind Alzheimer’s disease. PD is caused by a lack of dopamine producing cells, resulting in tremor, rigidity of body, bradykinesia (slow movements), and problems with balance. Degeneration of a midbrain area called the Substantia Nigra leads to inhibition of the motor cortex; the midbrain degeneration “has the effect of a stuck brake on an automobile or a bicycle.” The effect PD has on motor control can affect basic functions such as walking and speech production, which will change the lifestyle of numerous patients with Parkinson’s disease as the size of the elderly population—who have the highest incidence of PD—increases. In particular, PD affects speech quality through associations with several types of speech disorders that cause difficulty in the ability to communicate with others; because no cure for PD exists, these speech effects are permanent, but therapies that allow patients with PD to manage loss of speech control rather are emerging.