Includes bibliographical references and index.

"Parkinson's disease remains an enigma, with doctors, researchers and patients hunting for a cure. Journalist Jon Palfreman tells their story, a story that takes on urgency when he is diagnosed with the debilitating illness. Palfreman chronicles the mystery of what was once called "the shaking palsy," from the earliest clinical descriptions to the cutting edge of molecular neuroscience. Palfreman's own struggles and those of others living with Parkinson's, from a professional ballet dancer who "tricks" her body to move freely again, to a "frozen" patient who cannot walk but is able to ride a bicycle. Palfreman shows the varied and ingenious ways patients cope with having their bodies steadily taken away from them. The race is on to discover a means to stop or reverse neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's"--Provided by publisher.