Overview of Parkinson Disease

About 1 percent of Americans over 60 suffer from Parkinson disease, a degenerative neurologic condition. Bradykinesia, stiffness, tremor, and postural instability are the hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease. Early diagnosis of the disease is challenging since it can be confused with several neurologic disorders. Patients suspected of having Parkinson disease should be sent to doctors with greater experience in diagnosing the condition, and those who identify it infrequently should periodically reassess the diagnosis’ accuracy. When a patient starts to develop functional impairment, treatment should be initiated as it is beneficial in lowering disability and motor impairment. Although dopamine agonists and monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors are both effective and less prone to cause dyskinesias, the most effective treatment is the combination of carbidopa and levodopa. Adjunctive therapy with a dopamine agonist, monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor, or catechol O-methyltransferase inhibitor will improve motor symptoms and functional status in individuals receiving carbidopa/levodopa who have motor problems, but it will also exacerbate dyskinesias. Patients who have poorly controlled symptoms despite receiving the best medical treatment can benefit from deep brain stimulation. Speech, physical, and occupational therapy all help patients function better. Parkinson disease sufferers frequently experience melancholy, dementia, sleep issues, and fatigue. Treatment may improve these illnesses even if they are linked to a much lower quality of life.