A Parkinson’s doctor is usually a movement disorder specialist: a neurologist who completed additional fellowship training in Parkinson’s disease and related movement conditions.
Atlanta Neuroscience Institute has two fellowship-trained specialists, Dr. Joash Lazarus and Dr. Yulia Salamatova, both trained in movement disorders at Emory University. Founded in 2001 as a not-for-profit neurology practice, Parkinson’s care is one of our four core specialties.
Because Parkinson’s is diagnosed through clinical exams and managed over decades, choosing the right specialist is one of the most important decisions after noticing symptoms.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Parkinson’s Specialist:
- What a movement disorder specialist does that a general neurologist may not
- How Parkinson’s is diagnosed when no single test can confirm it
- What treatment looks like in year one and ten years in
- Where walking, balance, and fall risk fit into ongoing care
What Is a Movement Disorder Specialist?
A movement disorder specialist is a neurologist who completed advanced fellowship training in Parkinson’s disease, tremors, and related conditions, treating these disorders as their primary clinical focus.
This distinction matters because Parkinson’s symptoms change over time and medications require precise timing. Other conditions can also mimic early Parkinson’s, so regular experience is key to making an accurate diagnosis.
At Atlanta Neuroscience Institute, Dr. Joash Lazarus and Dr. Yulia Salamatova both completed specialized movement disorder fellowships at Emory University. Dr. Lazarus previously served as Chief Resident at Emory and leads our Gait Analysis Clinic, while Dr. Salamatova completed her neurology residency at the University of Florida Jacksonville.
| What to compare | General neurology practice | Movement disorder specialist |
|---|---|---|
| Training | Neurology residency | Neurology residency plus a movement disorders fellowship |
| Parkinson’s patients seen | One condition among many | A main focus of the practice |
| Medication management | Standard regimens | Dose and timing adjusted as your response changes |
| Non-motor symptoms | Often referred out | Treated as part of the same plan |
| Walking and balance | Referral elsewhere | Evaluated directly, including gait assessment |
Our Parkinson’s disease program covers diagnosis, medication management, symptom care, and surgical referral in one practice. If your symptoms have not been diagnosed yet, start with our neurology services.
How Is Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosed?
No single test confirms Parkinson’s disease. Doctors diagnose it through a comprehensive neurological exam that checks for movement symptoms like tremors, muscle stiffness, slowed movement, and balance issues, combined with your medical history. Specialists also use standardized assessment scales to track how symptoms affect daily activities and monitor changes over time.
Brain scans can support the diagnosis but cannot confirm it alone. A specialized scan called a DaTscan evaluates dopamine levels in the brain to help confirm a diagnosis, though a normal scan does not completely rule Parkinson’s out.
Catching Parkinson’s early can be challenging because early symptoms often develop slowly. Non-motor changes like loss of smell, sleep disruptions, and constipation can appear years before a noticeable tremor. Our Parkinson’s disease page covers symptoms, disease stages, and diagnostic testing in more detail.
What Does Parkinson’s Treatment Look Like Over Time?
Treatment is tailored to your specific symptoms and adjusted regularly. Levodopa (Sinemet) is the most common medication, with doses fine-tuned to maintain steady symptom relief throughout the day. Over time, medication can wear off between doses, so open communication helps your doctor adjust your schedule as your needs change.
Comprehensive care also addresses non-motor symptoms like mood changes, sleep problems, and fatigue. When medication alone is not enough, advanced therapies like deep brain stimulation (DBS) or speech therapy can help. Staying active, exercising regularly, and working with our Care Manager and Specialty Pharmacist ensure you have full support at every stage.
The Part of Parkinson’s Care That Gets Overlooked: Walking and Balance
Balance and walking issues are often overlooked, yet they are the main cause of falls and emergency room visits in Parkinson’s patients. Changes in your stride, hesitation when walking through doorways, or sudden freezing are specific movement symptoms that can be treated, not just unavoidable parts of aging.
At Atlanta Neuroscience Institute, Dr. Joash Lazarus leads a specialized Gait Analysis Clinic to evaluate walking and balance issues. By assessing how you move, our team can recommend targeted medication adjustments, physical therapy, or assistive devices to keep you steady and safe. You can learn more about our comprehensive care through our neurology services.
When Is It Time to See a Parkinson’s Specialist?
You should schedule an evaluation if you notice persistent tremors, muscle stiffness, slowed movement, changes in handwriting, or balance difficulties lasting more than a few weeks. While Parkinson’s most commonly develops later in life, early symptoms often start on one side of the body and can occur at any age.
Getting a second opinion is also wise if you were diagnosed without a movement disorder specialist, if your medication is not providing expected relief, or if your care plan has not been reviewed recently. Contact our team to find out what records are needed to review your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I bring to a first appointment with a movement disorder specialist?
Bring a complete medication list with doses and the exact times you take them, any prior neurology records and imaging, your insurance card, and a written timeline of when each symptom started. A short phone video of your tremor or your walking on a difficult day is genuinely useful, because symptoms fluctuate and often look better in an exam room than they do at home. Bring a family member or care partner as well, since they frequently notice changes the patient does not.
How often will I need follow-up visits once I am on medication?
Most patients are seen more often in the first year, while doses and timing are being adjusted, and less often once the regimen is stable. The schedule is driven by how you respond rather than by a fixed calendar, and it tightens again whenever symptoms change or a new medication is introduced. Call the office between visits if symptoms shift noticeably instead of waiting for the next appointment.
Should my spouse or care partner come to appointments?
Yes, and it usually improves the visit. A care partner notices sleep disturbances, mood changes, and balance problems that are hard to self-report, and they hear the medication instructions a second time. Including them also gives them a direct relationship with the care team, which matters later as the condition progresses and more of the day-to-day management is shared.
Are Parkinson’s clinical trials available in Georgia?
Our neurologists take part in clinical research, and our clinical trials page explains how research studies work. A clinical trial is a supervised study of a treatment that is not yet generally available, and taking part is always voluntary and never a condition of your care. Ask your specialist whether a study is open and whether you meet its criteria.
Talk With a Parkinson’s Doctor in Atlanta
Parkinson’s care works best when the person managing it does this every week, and that is what fellowship-trained movement disorder specialists are for. We see patients from across the metro area at our office at 3200 Downwood Circle NW, Suite 550, with office hours Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 4:30pm.
Call (404) 351-0205 or contact us to request an appointment, or learn more about our Parkinson’s program first.
Written by Joshua Mann | Medically Reviewed by Dr. Salamatova, Board Certified Neurologist at Atlanta Neuroscience Institute