Parkinson's Disease Overview

FACTS

• PD is the second most common brain disorder after Alzheimer’s disease.
• The cells that produce dopamine, a brain chemical important to movement and mood, slowly die off.
• The decrease in dopamine causes both motor and non-motor symptoms.
• PD slowly progresses as more cells stop functioning.

SYMPTOMS

Motor

• Tremor or rhythmic shaking of arms, legs, chin, or lip
• Slow, small, and stiff movement
• Shuffling gait
• Impaired balance and falls
• Soft or hoarse voice

Non-motor 

• Neuropsychiatric
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Apathy
  • Late symptoms
    • Hallucinations
    • Delusions
    • Dementia
• Autonomic abnormalities
  • Read the website document Autonomic Abnormalities for more information.
• Sleep disorders
  • Insomnia
  • Excessive sleep
  • Sleep apnea
  • Nightmares
  • Acting out dreams including screaming, kicking, and punching

RISK FACTORS

• Advancing age with average onset in the 60’s
• 5-10% of people with PD have a family history
• Repeated head trauma
• REM behavior disorder

DIAGNOSIS

• A diagnosis is usually made by looking for the key motor symptoms and ruling out other conditions, such as:
• Multiple strokes
• Exposure to certain toxins
• Some psychiatric medications
• A DaTscan is a special brain scan that can help diagnose PD.

TREATMENT

• Motor symptoms are treated with medications that mimic dopamine.
• Non-motor symptoms are treated in various ways.
• Exercise is essential for managing the motor symptoms and can slow the progression of PD.