Symptoms are caused by the breakdown of certain dopamine-containing nerve cells in the brain. Dopamine is one of many neurotransmitters, i.e. a substance needed for communication between nerve cells. Dopamine is produced by nerve cells seated deep in the centre of the brain. The brain is always using dopamine to control nerve signals, which in turn control the body’s movements. Dopamine, like other neurotransmitters, is constantly produced and used up (destroyed). In Parkinson’s, the production of dopamine is impaired while its use and destruction remains. This causes a dopamine deficit, whereby the body’s movement control is impaired.
