Why Do Parkinson’s Patients Have Slow Movement? Expert Insights from Neurosurgeons
If you’ve ever watched someone with Parkinson’s disease (PD) move deliberately and slowly, you might have wondered why this happens. Slow movement—clinically called bradykinesia—is one of the hallmark features of Parkinson’s and is often what most affects daily life. Here’s a clear, friendly explanation from the perspective of neurosurgeons and neurologists: what causes slow movement, how it shows up, and what can be done to help. What is bradykinesia? Bradykinesia means slowed initiation and execution of voluntary movement. It can make simple tasks—buttoning a shirt, writing, or rising from a chair—take much longer or require more effort. Patients may also show reduced facial expression, smaller handwriting (micrographia), and a shuffling gait. Why does it happen? The brain circuitry behind movement To understand bradykinesia, it helps to know a little about how the brain controls movement: The basal ganglia are deep brain structures that play a central role in planning and faci...