Parkinson’s Disease
Dr. Mit Ankur Raval
Parkinson’s disease is a clinical neurological disorder in which bradykinesia is accompanied by characteristic motor features such as rigidity or rest tremor. Non-motor symptoms can be an important part of the illness.
Motor and non-motor features to know.
Motor symptoms
Slowness, stiffness, rest tremor in some patients, reduced arm swing, gait change, freezing or postural instability.
Non-motor symptoms
Sleep problems, constipation, autonomic symptoms, mood changes, pain and cognitive concerns can be clinically important.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is primarily clinical. History, neurological examination and the overall pattern are central; tests are used selectively when another cause needs to be considered.
Treatment
Management may include medication, exercise/rehabilitation, speech/swallow support, non-motor symptom treatment and advanced therapies in selected patients.
When to review
Wearing-off, dyskinesia, increasing falls/freezing, new troublesome symptoms or increasing treatment complexity merit specialist review.
Urgent symptoms
Sudden weakness, speech difficulty, loss of consciousness or another abrupt neurological deficit requires emergency assessment.
Treatment evolves with the patient.
Early stage
Establish the diagnosis, optimise symptomatic therapy, encourage exercise and address non-motor symptoms.
Changing pattern
Review wearing-off, dyskinesia, gait problems, falls and treatment side effects.
Advanced disease
Consider whether advanced treatment pathways may offer meaningful benefit for selected symptoms.
Goals of care
Treatment decisions should reflect function, independence, quality of life and the patient’s priorities.
Patient questions
Does every tremor mean Parkinson’s disease?
Does DBS cure Parkinson’s disease?
Can non-motor symptoms be treated?
Book a neurological consultation.
Clinic and appointment details will be updated here.