Parkinson's disease

noun

Par·​kin·​son's disease ˈpär-kən-sənz- How to pronounce Parkinson's disease (audio)
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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
However, there is limited benefit seen in diseases that affect the brain, such as Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis (MS).12 The creatine dose most often used in studies is about 20 grams (g) daily for 5 to 7 days, followed by 2.25-10 grams daily for up to 16 weeks.11 6. Kirstyn Hill, Pharmd, Mph, Health, 30 Oct. 2024 Depositphotos View 1 Images Spanning nearly 100 laboratories in 45 countries, landmark research has, for the first time, shown an association between genetic brain size and neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2024 The rock star has rarely been seen out since being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019 and amid other health struggles. Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2024 Jeff Carter, the youngest of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter's three sons, has been quietly navigating life with Parkinson's disease. Kyler Alvord, People.com, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Parkinson's disease 

Word History

Etymology

James Parkinson †1824 English physician

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Parkinson's disease was in 1877

Dictionary Entries Near Parkinson's disease

Cite this Entry

“Parkinson's disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Parkinson%27s%20disease. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

Parkinson's disease

noun
Par·​kin·​son's disease ˈpär-kən-sənz- How to pronounce Parkinson's disease (audio)
: 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- How to pronounce Parkinson's disease (audio)
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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!