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Parkinson's Disease Parkinson's Disease Basics
People with Parkinson's disease only blink 2 to 5 times per minute
Normally, people blink their eyes about 20 to 30 times per minute. People with Parkinson's disease, however, tend to blink less frequently, sometimes as rarely as 2 to 3 times per minute. They also develop a mask-like face and poor muscle tone in the bottom eyelid, which may appear droopy. Parkinson's disease results from a decrease in the cells that produce a brain chemical called dopamine. As the dopamine cells are lost, there is a gradual loss of control over movement. Additionally, people receiving medication for Parkinson's disease can use their blink rate to monitor their need to adjust medications.
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