Parkinson's Disease

Cure for Parkinson's? (Parkinson's Disease)

Print out these questions and answers to discuss with your doctor. 1. Is There a Cure for Parkinson's Disease? Although research is ongoing, to date there is no known cure or way to prevent Parkinson's disease. Still, research in Parkinson'...

Parkinson's Stem Cells (Parkinson's Disease)

Research in Parkinson's disease has made remarkable progress. There is very real hope that the causes, whether genetic or environmental, will be identified and the precise effects of these causes on brain function will be understood. Researchers...

Tremors (Parkinson's Disease)

Tremor is an involuntary shaking movement that is repeated over and over. Although it may affect any part of the body, tremor most often affects the hands and head. Your voice may also shake. Sometimes the feet or torso may also shake. ...

Credits (Parkinson's Disease)

By Healthwise Staff Primary Medical Reviewer Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Speci...

Resources (Parkinson's Disease)

Citations Katzenschlager R, et al. (2008). Fourteen-year final report of the randomized PDRG-UK trial comparing three initial treatments in PD. Neurology, 71(7): 474-480...

Parkinson’s Disease: Driving a Car (Parkinson's Disease)

Parkinson’s disease is a type of movement disorder that can significantly impair driving skills, cause safety concerns, and force many patients to stop driving a car. That’s because the primary symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can seriously...

Parkinson’s: Preventing Falls (Parkinson's Disease)

Falls are a frequent complication of Parkinson's disease, and preventing falls is very important. While there are many things that you can do to reduce your risk for falls, the two most important things are to work with your doctor to ensure that you...

Parkinson’s: Home Preparation (Parkinson's Disease)

Effects from Parkinson's disease, such as fatigue and difficulties getting around, can make activities of daily living -- including leisure activities -- more difficult. The following tips will help you learn to function independently and successfull...

Parkinson’s Counseling (Parkinson's Disease)

Parkinson's disease, as with many chronic illnesses, will affect you both physically and mentally. It is important to realize that you are not alone. If you need help coping with Parkinson's disease, consider seeking counseling. The decision to ...

Day Plan for Parkinson’s (Parkinson's Disease)

Parkinson's disease can affect many aspects of a person's daily life. However, with careful planning and activity moderation, the effects of Parkinson's can become much less stressful and intrusive. The following suggestions offer guidance to ov...

Parkinson’s Travel Tips (Parkinson's Disease)

The difficulties of Parkinson's disease don't have to interfere with traveling, which should be an enjoyable experience and not limited or avoided because of the disease. But planning ahead is key to avoid these difficulties. The following guidelines...

Parkinson’s and Exercise (Parkinson's Disease)

Because Parkinson's disease affects your ability to move, exercise helps to keep muscles strong and improve flexibility and mobility. Exercise will not stop Parkinson's disease from progressing; but, it will improve your balance and it can prevent jo...

Living and Coping (Parkinson's Disease)

1. Can you determine why I developed Parkinson's disease? 2. What are my treatment options? 3. What are the pros and cons of each treatment? 4. ...

Care (Parkinson's Disease)

While there is no special diet required for people with Parkinson's disease, eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet is extremely beneficial. With the proper diet, our bodies work more efficiently, we have more energy, and Parkinson's disease medicat...

Other Treatment (Parkinson's Disease)

Physical therapy, speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy can all be helpful for people who have Parkinson's disease. Several nutritional therapies have been suggested as treatments for Parkinson's disease....

Medications (Parkinson's Disease)

Medicines are the most common treatment for Parkinson's disease. The goal is to correct the shortage of the brain chemical (neurotransmitter) dopamine, which causes the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Treatment with drugs is usua...

Surgery (Parkinson's Disease)

Brain surgery may be considered when drugs fails to control symptoms of Parkinson's disease or cause severe or disabling side effects. Surgery is not a cure for Parkinson's disease. Drugs are usually still needed after surgery. Bu...

Home Treatment (Parkinson's Disease)

Early on, Parkinson's disease may not greatly disrupt your life. But for most people, the disease becomes more disabling over time. Home treatment can help you adjust as the disease progresses and help you stay independent for as long as ...

Treatment (Parkinson's Disease)

No known treatment can stop or reverse the breakdown of nerve cells that causes Parkinson's disease. But drugs can relieve many symptoms of the disease. Surgery also can be effective in a small number of people to treat symptoms of Pa...

Warning Signs (Parkinson's Disease)

Call911or other emergency services immediately if signs of a stroke develop suddenly. These may include: Sudden numbness, tingling, weakness, or loss of movement in your face, arm, or leg, especially on only one side of your body...

Diagnosis (Parkinson's Disease)

A diagnosis of Parkinson's disease is based on your medical history and a thorough neurological exam. Your doctor also may check your sense of smell. Sometimes, your doctor will have you try a medicine for Parkinson's disease. If ...

Symptoms (Parkinson's Disease)

The type and severity of symptoms experienced by a person with Parkinson's disease vary with each individual and the stage of Parkinson's disease. Symptoms that develop in the early stages of the disease in one person may not develop ...

Are you at Risk? (Parkinson's Disease)

Risk factors for Parkinson's disease are hard to identify, because the cause of the disease is unknown. Advancing age is the only known risk factor for typical Parkinson's disease (not including early-onset Parkinson's). Most instances of...

Prevention (Parkinson's Disease)

There is no known way to prevent Parkinson's disease. Research has shown that people who eat more fruits and vegetables, high-fiber foods, fish, and omega-3 rich oils (sometimes known as the Mediterranean diet) and who eat less red...

What Happens (Parkinson's Disease)

Treatment may help control symptoms during the early stages of Parkinson's disease and is usually started as soon as symptoms begin to affect a person's ability to work or do daily activities. As the disease progresses, drugs may ...

Causes (Parkinson's Disease)

Low levels of dopamine, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) involved in controlling movement, cause symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The shortage of this brain chemical occurs when nerve cells in a part of the brain (substantia nigra) tha...

What Is Parkinson’s Disease? (Parkinson's Disease)

What is Parkinson's disease? Parkinson's disease affects the way you move. It happens when there is a problem with certain nerve cells in the brain. Normally, these nerve cells make an important chemical called dopamine...