brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Parkinson Disease (PD)
Diagnosis of Parkinson Disease
A doctor's evaluation Sometimes computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging Sometimes use oflevodopato see whether it helps Parkinson disease is likely if people have the following: Fewer, slow movements The characteristic tremor Muscle rigidity Clear and long-lasting (sustained) improvement in response tolevodopa Mild, early disease may be difficult for doctors to diagnose because it usually begins subtly. Diagnosis is especially difficult in older people because aging can cause some of the same problems as Parkinson disease, such as loss of balance, slow movements, muscle stiffness, and stooped posture. Sometimes Essential tremor is misdiagnosed as Parkinson disease. To exclude other causes of the symptoms, doctors ask about previous disorders, exposure to toxins, and use of drugs that could cause parkinsonism. During the physical examination, doctors ask people to do certain movements, which can help establish the diagnosis. For example, in people with Parkinson disease, the tremor disappears or lessens when doctors ask them to touch their nose with their finger. Also, people with the disease have difficulty performing rapidly alternating movements, such as placing their hands on their thighs, then rapidly turning their hands over back and forth several times. No tests or imaging procedures can directly confirm the diagnosis. However, Computed Tomography (CT) (CT) and If the diagnosis is unclear, doctors may give the personlevodopa, a drug used to treat Parkinson disease. Iflevodoparesults in clear improvement, Parkinson disease is likely. 