Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disease that results from nerve cell damage in the brain, which causes decreased dopamine levels. This results in symptoms such as tremors, shaking, stiffness, loss of balance and other involuntary muscle movements.

Parkinson's disease is not curable, but the majority of symptoms can be controlled. At The University of Kansas Health System, we offer expert care and advanced, innovative treatment options to help those living with Parkinson’s disease enjoy a full life.

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative neurological condition. It affects the cells in the brain that produce dopamine as well as other chemicals. When these cells are damaged, you may experience tremor, muscle rigidity and changes in walking and balance. Other symptoms can also be present, such as memory loss, depression and anxiety, among others.

This disease most commonly affects people over the age of 60, but it can occur in young adults. It is slightly more common among men than women. Currently, there are approximately 1 million people in the United States with Parkinson’s disease.

Advanced age is the most significant risk for developing Parkinson’s disease. The average age of onset is 60 years. Family history may play a role as well as environmental risk factors such as herbicide/pesticide exposure, head injury and other chemical exposure.

Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder that begins slowly and progresses over time. Tremor on 1 side, typically in the hand or arm, is the most common first symptom. Other common symptoms include slowness, stiffness and difficulty with walking and balance. Additional possible symptoms include:

• Loss of smell
• Monotone speech
• Non-motor symptoms such as depression, anxiety, constipation, acting out dreams
• Reduced facial expression and decreased blinking of the eyes
• Shuffling gait with reduced arm swing, typically 1 side
• Small handwriting
• Swallowing problems

Parkinson’s disease can be a challenging disease to diagnose. There are no blood or urine tests, or brain scan to confirm the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, and symptoms differ from person to person. Your movement disorder specialist will take a complete history and perform a detailed exam.

A review of your symptoms and a physical examination will determine if you have Parkinson’s disease. Occasionally, a specialized brain scan, called a DaTscan, can be used to help make the diagnosis.

Our movement disorder experts have extensive experience in providing care for people with Parkinson’s disease. Working with specialists will help you receive the right care at the right time. In many cases, our specialists work with people over years or decades to control symptoms and manage medications as the condition advances.

After diagnosis, your Parkinson’s disease specialist will work with you to determine the most appropriate treatment strategy based on the severity of your symptoms and your goals for maintaining your desired quality of life. These options include nondrug therapies, medications and surgeries, including some of the field’s most innovative treatment options.

Together, our specialists work as an interdisciplinary team to provide complete care for Parkinson’s disease and its effects. Specialists in your healthcare planning may include:

• Anesthesiologists
• Dermatologists
• Dietitians
• General surgeons
• Neurologists and/or neurosurgeons
• Neuro-ophthalmologists
• Neurophysiologists
• Neuropsychologists
• Neuroradiologists
• Nurses and therapists
• Psychologists
• Social workers
• Urologists