Parkinson's disease

noun

Par·​kin·​son's disease ˈpär-kən-sənz- 

variants or less commonly Parkinson disease or Parkinson's or Parkinson's syndrome

: a chronic progressive neurological disease chiefly of later life that is linked to decreased dopamine production in the substantia nigra and is marked especially by tremor of resting muscles, rigidity, slowness of movement, impaired balance, and a shuffling gait

called also paralysis agitans

Examples of Parkinson's disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Medication is usually necessary for treating medical disorders associated with dysregulation of dopamine, such as Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. —Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 6 June 2025

Studies published in journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine and Circulation (NEJM) have found associations between regular coffee consumption and lower rates of Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, stroke and cardiovascular disease. —Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025

Bruxism has been associated with a number of chronic health conditions, including Parkinson's disease, encephalitis, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury and hyperthyroidism, says Schultz. —Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 1 June 2025

In a 1998 cover story, Fox spoke exclusively to PEOPLE about living with Parkinson's disease after being diagnosed in 1991. —Angel Saunders, People.com, 31 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

James Parkinson †1824 English physician

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Parkinson's disease

• ferromanganese
• mephistopheles
• ostracods
• abcs
• absentees
• addressees
• adoptees
• allottees
• amputees
• antifreeze
• appellees
• appointees

Kids Definition

Parkinson's disease

noun

Par·​kin·​son's disease ˈpär-kən-sənz- 

: a disease chiefly of later life that tends to get steadily worse and is marked especially by stiff and trembling muscles, slowness of movement, and a shuffling way of walking

Medical Definition

Parkinson's disease

noun

Par·​kin·​son's disease ˈpär-kən-sənz- 

variants also Parkinson disease

-sən-

or Parkinson's

: a chronic progressive neurological disease chiefly of later life that is linked to decreased dopamine production in the substantia nigra, is of unknown cause, and is marked especially by tremor of resting muscles, rigidity, slowness of movement, impaired balance, and a shuffling gait

called also paralysis agitans, parkinsonian syndrome, parkinsonism, Parkinson's syndrome