Final answer:
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting movement due to the loss of dopamine neurons. L-DOPA is a common treatment to manage symptoms, but can have diminishing effectiveness and side effects over time. Medication management is crucial to mitigate potential adverse effects on motor control.
Step-by-step explanation:
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that predominantly affects individuals over the age of 50. This condition leads to the death of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain, resulting in various movement disorders such as tremors, muscle rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and postural instability. Medications like L-DOPA are prescribed to manage symptoms by increasing dopamine neurotransmission to compensate for the loss of dopaminergic neurons. However, as the disease progresses, these treatments become less effective and can lead to side effects like involuntary movements and psychological issues.
Haloperidol, a medication sometimes used to control symptoms, acts on various regions of the nervous system and can have side effects affecting motor control. In the case described from the reading material, medication was the cause of changes in motor control in an elderly woman, highlighting the importance of careful management of pharmaceuticals in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.