My sister has parkinson's disease?

My sister has parkinson's disease. Does anyone know what it is and is it progressive? Are there any cures?

my grandma has it so i know how you're feeling.
here are some facts i found: Parkinson's disease is a movement disorder that is chronic and progressive, meaning that symptoms continue and worsen over time. As many as one million Americans suffer from Parkinson's disease. While approximately 15 percent of people with Parkinson's are diagnosed before the age of 50, incidence increases with age. The cause is unknown, and although there is presently no cure, there are many treatment options such as medication and surgery to manage the symptoms. (For more statistics on Parkinson's disease, read our fact sheet, General Facts on Parkinson's Disease).

Parkinson's disease occurs when a group of cells in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra begin to malfunction and die. These cells in the substantia nigra produce a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, or chemical messenger, that sends information to the parts of the brain that control movement and coordination. When a person has Parkinson's disease, their dopamine-producing cells begin to die and the amount of dopamine produced in the brain decreases. Messages from the brain telling the body how and when to move are therefore delivered more slowly, leaving a person incapable of initiating and controlling movements in a normal way.

Parkinson's disease can also cause several different symptoms. The specific group of symptoms that an individual experiences varies from person to person. Some of the most common symptoms of Parkinson's disease are:

tremor of the hands, arms, legs, jaw and face
rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk
bradykinesia or slowness of movement
postural instability or impaired balance and coordination

and here are some treatments for it:
People with Parkinson鈥檚 disease often take a variety of medications in different doses in order to manage the symptoms of the disease. These factors, combined with the frequency with which one must take their medicines, can result in confusion. People with Parkinson鈥檚 and their caregivers should become familiar with their medications in order to use them most effectively and avoid possible interactions. Understanding a medication regime and sticking to it will provide the greatest benefit from the drug and avoid unpleasant 鈥渙ff鈥?periods due to missed doses or confusion.

im really sorry for what's happening to you it's tough to go through alone soooo.. if you need any help just contact me : )

I am so sorry....there is no cure for it....Michael J. Fox is a huge supporter and campaigner on this subject and is VERY good at it....look up his info on the subject. I believe it is progressive, if I remember correctly.

Parkinsons disease is a progressive disease that usually affects older adults (60+yrs) and starts out with a generalised paplsy or tremor in the hands. It has many other symptoms that can be treated with medication or in severe cases surgery.
Do a google search for more detailed information and remember that any disease will affect everyone differently.

no, theres no cure and its degenerative

It is a disease that makes your hands shake, kinda like ceasures exept you can breathe. I'm sorry, but there is no cure for it. My grandmother had it for 15 years, but she had not won the battle. =( I really hope that they find a cure for it soon. My cousin and I are going to raise money to find a cure. I'm so sorry about your sister. I'll pray for you. God bless!

Take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily, and avoid artificial sweeteners, particularly Aspartame (Equal, diet sodas, etc.). Eat in accordance with your nutritional type (see www.mercola.com TASKBAR). An organic diet, devoid of preservatives, artificial colors, with a minimum of sugar, and grain products, may help. Go to the Groups, at Myspace, Google, and Yahoo. Contact the state and national bodies. Use the WebFerret search engine, or your own, and the Wikipedia, and Google websites. There are medications which help with symptoms, but check them out at www.drugs.com and be alert for side effects. I'd also avoid products using alumin(i)um, such as antiperspirants/deodorants, antacids, and cookware, and eliminate plastics (phthalates), using glass, ceramic, wood, or metal, instead. A healthy lifestyle, with daily exercise is also advisible. There are chemical precursors (building blocks) to dopamine, and it may be possible, by supplying them in a sufficient (but not dangerous) quantity, to enable the brain to manufacture an adequate amount, although I have no definitive knowledge of this. Stem cell research may eventually produce an effective treatment, but that is years away. After reading Lily's answer: get a cheap PDA, or programme reminders into a cellular mobile phone, and/or medicine organiser: a medication diary, or chart, could also prove useful.