Final answer:
Parkinson's disease is characterized by a shuffling gait, which is the correct answer to the question about its symptoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Parkinson's disease is characterized by various symptoms due to the progressive death of neurons in the midbrain that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. One of the hallmark symptoms of Parkinson's disease is a shuffling gait, caused by a combination of motor symptoms including tremor, muscle rigidity, slowness of movement, and postural instability. This gait is a slow, hunched walk where the feet appear to drag slightly with each step. In comparison, cerebellar ataxia presents as a loss of coordination in voluntary movements and does not result from Parkinson's disease; it is a movement disorder of the cerebellum. Therefore, option A) Shuffling gait is the correct answer to the question concerning the characterization of Parkinson's disease.