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Home > Medical Reference > Patient EducationServices at Maryland GeneralA complete list of inpatient and outpatient healthcare services at MGH.Parkinson's disease - Diagnosis
DescriptionAn in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of Parkinson's diseaseDiagnosis:Parkinsonâ ' s disease can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages. Doctors base their diagnosis on the patientâ ' s medical history and symptoms evaluated during a neurological exam. No laboratory or imaging tests can diagnose Parkinsonâ ' s, although brain scans such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or positron-emission tomographic (PET) may be used to rule out other neurological disorders. Medical HistoryA medical and personal history should include any relevant symptoms as well as any medications taken, and information on other conditions the patient may have. Neurological ExamIn a neurological exam, the doctor will ask the patient to sit, stand, walk, and extend arms. The doctor will observe the patientâ ' s balance and coordination. Parkinson's may be suspected in patients who have at least two of the following four symptoms, especially if they are more obvious on one side of the body:
Drug Challenge TestA levodopa challenge test may confirm a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. If a patient's symptoms improve when they take levodopa, they likely have Parkinson's, ruling out other neurological diseases. Tests for Depression and DementiaThe American Academy of Neurology (AAN) recommends the Beck Depression Inventory or the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale to screen for depression in patients with Parkinson's disease. The AAN recommends the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG) tests to screen for dementia. During these tests, the patient answers a series of questions. Ruling out Conditions that Mimic Parkinson's DiseaseParkinsonism Plus Syndromes. Parkinsonâ ' s disease is the most common type of parkinsonism. Parkinsonism refers to a group of movement disorders that share similar symptoms with Parkinsonâ ' s disease, but also have unique symptoms of their own. About 15% of parkinsonism cases are due to conditions called Parkinsonâ ' s plus syndromes (PPS) or atypical parkinsonism. These syndromes include:
Patients with PPS often have earlier and more severe dementia than those with Parkinsonâ ' s disease. In addition, they do not usually respond to medications that are used to treat Parkinsonâ ' s disease. Other Neurologic Conditions. Many medical conditions may cause some symptoms of Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism. Hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis) in the brain can cause multiple small strokes, which can produce loss of motor control. Alzheimerâ ' s disease can share similar symptoms with Parkinsonâ ' s and the conditions can exist together. Medications. Certain drugs or medications account for some cases of A number of drugs can cause these symptoms, including antipsychotic and antiseizure drugs. Anyone with parkinsonism should discuss their medications with their doctor. Resources
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