Parkinson’s Disorder (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the United States, a condition in which nerve cells in the brain gradually break down. It affects approximately 1 in 300 people. Parkinson’s is named after Dr. James Parkinson, who first described it as “the shaking palsy.”
In a healthy brain, nerve cells produce dopamine, a chemical messenger (neurotransmitter) that plays an important role in several functions, including coordinating movement. In people with Parkinson’s, dopamine-producing cells degenerate, or break down, leading to a loss of dopamine. That loss causes the symptoms of Parkinson’s. If you or a loved one is noticing changes, our Parkinson’s specialists can help you understand what’s happening.
Parkinson’s looks different for everyone, so your experience with symptoms will be unique. Movement-related (“motor”) symptoms are the most visible sign of PD, but the condition also brings a range of non-motor symptoms, and these often appear many years before movement changes do. Typical non-motor symptoms include apathy, depression, constipation, sleep behavior disorders, loss of sense of smell, and cognitive impairment (changes in thinking and memory).
Motor symptoms usually show up as one or more of the following:
Nearly one million people in the U.S. are living with Parkinson’s, and approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed each year. No single cause has been discovered yet, but researchers have identified several risk factors.
Parkinson's generally appears in middle to later life, and your risk increases with age.
Men are 1.5 times more likely than women to get Parkinson's.
Genetics causes about 10–15% of Parkinson's cases and only slightly raise the risk for relatives
Risk factors linked to PD include head injury, exposure to pesticides, and more.
Parkinson’s affects people in different ways. Not everyone will experience every symptom, and those who do won’t necessarily experience them in the same order or at the same intensity. Doctors describe the typical progression of Parkinson’s in stages, based on how severe movement symptoms are and how much the disease affects daily activities. Our team is here to support you and your family at every stage.
In the early stage, symptoms are mild and generally don’t affect daily activities. Tremors and other movement symptoms happen on one side of the body only. You may notice changes in posture, walking, and facial expressions.
Symptoms start to get worse. Tremors, rigidity, and other movement symptoms now affect both sides of the body, and walking problems and poor posture may become noticeable. People in this stage can still live alone, though daily tasks become more difficult and take longer.
Considered the middle stage, Stage Three is marked by loss of balance and slower movements, and falls become more common. People are still fully independent, but symptoms significantly impair activities such as dressing and eating.
Symptoms are now severe and limiting. It’s still possible to stand without help, but moving around may require a walker. People in this stage need help with daily activities and can’t live alone.
This is the most advanced stage, and it brings the greatest challenges. Stiffness in the legs may make it impossible to walk or stand, so the person needs a wheelchair or is bedridden. Around-the-clock nursing care is required. Hallucinations and delusions may occur, along with significant non-motor symptoms.
There’s no single way to diagnose Parkinson’s, so your doctor may use a range of diagnostic tests to determine a prognosis. Diagnosis can be even more difficult in the early stages, when fewer symptoms are present. Our physicians also use scales that focus on motor symptoms to track how the disease progresses.
The Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) is a more comprehensive tool that also accounts for non-motor symptoms, including mental functioning, mood, and social interaction. It considers cognitive difficulties, your ability to carry out daily activities, and complications from treatment.
Symptoms and progression are unique to each person, but knowing the typical stages of Parkinson’s can help you cope with changes as they happen. Some people experience changes over 20 years or more, while for others the disease progresses more quickly.
A DaTscan is an imaging test that uses a small amount of a radioactive drug to help determine how much dopamine is available in your brain.
SPECT scanner is used to measure the amount and location of the drug in the brain.
There’s no known cure for Parkinson’s today, and there’s no single standard treatment for everyone with PD. Instead, your treatment is based on your symptoms, and many steps can reduce and control those symptoms to improve your quality of life. Levodopa replacement (Sinemet) is currently considered the gold standard medication for treating PD.
To discuss medication options with one of our Parkinson’s Disease specialists, call us at 404-351-0205.
Getting enough sleep, sticking to a schedule, exercising regularly, and adjusting your lifestyle as needed can make a significant difference in living a full life with PD. Our pharmacist can also answer questions about your medications.
Your physician may recommend surgical options for treating PD, which may include:
Speech therapy may also help if you have difficulty speaking or swallowing.
Things to Consider When Dealing With Parkinson’s Disorder for a Better Life
Help the people closest to you understand what you're going through. Open, honest communication makes a real difference.
Your doctor is a great source of information and help throughout your journey with Parkinson's. Our neurologists are here for you at every step.
Support groups offer different perspectives on living with Parkinson's, and they may offer some helpful solutions, too.
Include your partner for support, so your relationship can keep growing from a place of understanding.
Whether it's reducing your workload or working from home, ask what changes you can make. Our case management team can help with workplace adjustments.
A Parkinson's diagnosis, whether it's yours or a family member's, can bring a range of emotions, and it's normal to go through several stages of adjustment. As PD progresses and brings new challenges, you will go through many of these emotions and stages again. Everyone moves through them in their own order and at their own pace.
ANI and our community partners offer many resources for PD education, along with opportunities to connect with other patients. We encourage you to make an appointment with one of our Parkinson's specialists, who stay on the cutting edge of PD research and treatment. Our comprehensive care team, including our Care Manager and Specialty Pharmacist, will help with other aspects of your care.
Most people with Parkinson's (about 90%) have no known genetic link, and their children might never develop it. Some known genetic variations increase the risk of Parkinson's, but most people with these variations don't develop it. Like many other diseases, Parkinson's results from a complex interaction between genes and environmental factors.
In a small number of people (up to 10%), Parkinson's is inherited and can affect multiple family members. Their children may have a higher risk of developing Parkinson's, but there's no guarantee they will develop PD.
Most people with Parkinson's (about 90%) have no known genetic link. Their children will likely never develop Parkinson's. Some known genetic variations increase the risk of getting Parkinson's, but most people with these variations do not get Parkinson's. Like many other diseases, Parkinson's is a result of a complex interaction between genes and environmental factors.
In a small number of people (up to 10%), Parkinson's is inherited and can affect multiple family members. Their children may have a higher risk of developing Parkinson's. However, there is no guarantee they will develop PD.
No. Parkinson's can also cause many non-motor symptoms, such as apathy, depression, constipation, sleep behavior disorders, loss of sense of smell, and cognitive impairment. These are often called "invisible symptoms," and many of them are highly treatable.
Not all PD symptoms are visible, and they fluctuate. Over time, people with PD notice their medications tend to wear off between doses more and more, so how someone looks at one moment may not reflect how they feel most of the time. Non-motor symptoms can also make you feel unwell. Let your doctor know if you're experiencing this, so they can optimize your treatment plan.
People with Parkinson's are at greater risk of developing some conditions, though no two people have the same Parkinson's disease. With diverse symptoms and varying speeds of progression, PD doesn't affect everyone the same way, but people with Parkinson's share many common symptoms. Talk with our healthcare team to understand your risks and learn prevention strategies that help you live your best life with PD.
No. PD can't flare up unexpectedly. Symptoms may fluctuate throughout the day, but PD progresses slowly over time.
Young Onset Parkinson's (YOPD) occurs in people younger than 50. It affects about 4% of the one million people with PD in the United States today. Symptoms are similar to late-onset PD, but it's important to understand the financial, family, and employment challenges people with YOPD often face.
In rare cases, Parkinson's-like symptoms can appear in children and teenagers. This form is called juvenile Parkinsonism, and it's often associated with specific genetic mutations that carry a high risk for PD.
Read more about YOPD here.