About Melatonin:
- It is a neurohormone secreted from the pineal gland of the brain in response to darkness.
- It is related to the timing and quality of our sleep and wake rhythms and determined by our internal body clock.
- Melatonin makes us sleepy at certain times of the day. It starts to secrete when our bodies are getting ready to go to sleep and usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes to take full effect.
- Melatonin secretion is at its highest in the middle of the night and gradually starts to decrease until we are ready to wake up and start our day.
Key facts about Parkinson’s disease
- It is a progressive neurological disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves.
- It is a condition in which a patient has limited or no control over his movements and body balance.
- The risk of developing Parkinson’s disease naturally increases with age, and the average age at which it starts is 60 years old.
- Many studies have suggested that men are more likely to be affected by Parkinson’s than women.
- Cause:
- It is caused by the degeneration of nerve cells in the part of the brain called the substantia nigra, which controls movement.
- These nerve cells die or become impaired, losing the ability to produce an important chemical called dopamine.
- Dopamine operates with other neurotransmitters to help coordinate the millions of nerve and muscle cells involved in the movement.
- Lack of dopamine causes the slowed movements and tremors symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
- Treatment: There’s no cure for this disease, but treatments can help significantly improve your symptoms.
Q1: What is Pineal gland?
It is a tiny endocrine gland in the middle of your brain that helps regulate your body’s circadian rhythm by secreting the hormone melatonin.
Source: PIB
Last updated on Dec 26, 2024
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