Q&A with dave iverson

What is Parkinson's Disease?
I'll give you my layman's definition. Basically, it's a degenerative neurological condition usually characterized by movement difficulty such as tremor, balance problems and muscle stiffness that become more debilitating over time. Those motor difficulties are caused by a loss of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which helps regulate muscle control.

But defining Parkinson's is actually not a simple question. Scientists are discovering that Parkinson's is much more complex than was originally thought. Neurologists now say that some of the early warning signs of PD may seem quite unrelated. For example, a loss of a sense of smell, or constipation, may show up much earlier in some individuals than the traditional motor symptoms associated with the disease.

Why did you want to do a documentary about Parkinson's?
Two answers. My dad had Parkinson's, so it's been part of my life for a long time. But beyond that, Parkinson's is fascinating on a number of levels. Many researchers think it will be the neurological condition that will be figured out first. It's better understood than Alzheimer's, for example, and there's hope that unlocking the secrets of PD will lead to greater understanding of other brain diseases. It's what scientists sometimes call a "gateway disease."

So, at one level, the search to understand it is a detective story with great scientific significance. But it's also a fascinating story from a societal standpoint. I don't think we're fully prepared for the consequences of how neurodegenerative diseases will impact our increasingly aging population.

In addition, Parkinson's is thought to be the neurological condition most likely to benefit from embryonic stem cell science. So, Parkinson's is also in the crosshairs of that ongoing political and moral debate.

How many people are diagnosed with Parkinson's?
Estimates vary from one million to 1.5 million with PD in the United States alone, with about 60,000 new diagnoses each year. As the boomer population ages, those numbers are bound to go up. PD is the most common neurological condition there is save Alzheimer's.

Is there a cure for Parkinson's?
No. But a wide range of medications often help control the symptoms. Unfortunately, over time, those medications often lose some of their effectiveness, which is why there is such high interest in new approaches to treating PD, including gene therapy, deep brain stimulation and eventually, perhaps, stem cell therapies. There is also increasing interest in the importance of exercise in moderating the impact of the disease.

Is there a normal onset of the disease and does it follow a standard course in most patients?
Parkinson's is very idiosyncratic. As Michael J. Fox likes to say, everyone gets their own version of the disease but none of them comes with operating instructions. Sometimes the disease impacts quality of life very quickly and sometimes symptoms are much more mild. I'm one of the lucky ones; my own symptoms are very manageable. Age of onset can vary tremendously too. While it's generally a disease that strikes people in mid-life and beyond, people in their twenties and thirties can also suffer from a form of the disease called Young Onset Parkinson's.