Pathoanatomy of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson’s disease is a widespread degenerative illness affecting the human central, peripheral, and enteric nervous systems. The underlying pathological process progresses slowly but relentlessly and involves multiple neuronal systems. The disease is the consequence of changes in the neuronal cytoskeleton developing in only a few susceptible types of nerve cells. Afflicted neurons eventually produce Lewy bodies in their perikarya and Lewy neurites in their neuronal processes.