Parkinson

/ˈpɑːrkɪnsən/ noun

Definition

Short for Parkinson's disease, a neurological disorder causing involuntary tremors, stiffness, and movement problems.

Etymology

Named after James Parkinson, an English surgeon who described the condition in 1817 as 'shaking palsy.' Medical conditions are often named after the doctors who first systematically documented them.

Kelly Says

James Parkinson first described the disease in 1817, but it probably affected humans for thousands of years—many historical 'possessed' or 'cursed' people might have had Parkinson's, misdiagnosed by their societies.

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