How is parkinsons disease diagnosed

For more information please view our Privacy Policy. Symptoms vary from person to person and a number of other illnesses have similar symptoms, which means misdiagnoses can occur. Sometimes diagnosis can be confirmed quickly, but it can take months or even years. It is common to have several examinations for a diagnosis to be confirmed.

Early physical signs include the common motor symptoms: tremor, muscle rigidity and slowness. They may also include the following:. Other imaging studies that can be done, but that are not used routinely in the clinic, include functional MRI fMRI , a specialized form of brain imaging that examines brain function, and positron emission tomography PET , which can measure certain brain functions.

Unfortunately, there are no standard biological tests for the disease, such as a blood test. Item text. MRI or CT scans These are brain-imaging scans and can tell your specialist what the structure of your brain looks like. Is it possible to be misdiagnosed with Parkinson's? Find out more about our research.

Download this information Diagnosing Parkinson's PDF, KB We know lots of people would rather have something in their hands to read rather than look at a screen, so you can order printed copies of our information by post, phone or email. Read more on our magazine. Helpline and local advisers. Call us on More about the helpline and local advisers. Your doctor may lessen your dose or adjust the times of your doses to control these effects. Carbidopa-levodopa infusion. Duopa is a brand-name medication made up of carbidopa and levodopa.

However, it's administered through a feeding tube that delivers the medication in a gel form directly to the small intestine. Duopa is for patients with more-advanced Parkinson's who still respond to carbidopa-levodopa, but who have a lot of fluctuations in their response. Because Duopa is continually infused, blood levels of the two drugs remain constant. Placement of the tube requires a small surgical procedure. Risks associated with having the tube include the tube falling out or infections at the infusion site.

Dopamine agonists. Unlike levodopa, dopamine agonists don't change into dopamine. Instead, they mimic dopamine effects in your brain. They aren't as effective as levodopa in treating your symptoms. However, they last longer and may be used with levodopa to smooth the sometimes off-and-on effect of levodopa. Dopamine agonists include pramipexole Mirapex , ropinirole Requip and rotigotine Neupro, given as a patch. Apomorphine Apokyn is a short-acting injectable dopamine agonist used for quick relief.

Some of the side effects of dopamine agonists are similar to the side effects of carbidopa-levodopa. But they can also include hallucinations, sleepiness and compulsive behaviors such as hypersexuality, gambling and eating.

If you're taking these medications and you behave in a way that's out of character for you, talk to your doctor. MAO B inhibitors. These medications include selegiline Zelapar , rasagiline Azilect and safinamide Xadago. They help prevent the breakdown of brain dopamine by inhibiting the brain enzyme monoamine oxidase B MAO B. This enzyme metabolizes brain dopamine. Selegiline given with levodopa may help prevent wearing-off. Side effects of MAO B inhibitors may include headaches, nausea or insomnia.

When added to carbidopa-levodopa, these medications increase the risk of hallucinations. These medications are not often used in combination with most antidepressants or certain narcotics due to potentially serious but rare reactions.

Check with your doctor before taking any additional medications with an MAO B inhibitor. Entacapone Comtan and opicapone Ongentys are the primary medications from this class. This medication mildly prolongs the effect of levodopa therapy by blocking an enzyme that breaks down dopamine. Side effects, including an increased risk of involuntary movements dyskinesia , mainly result from an enhanced levodopa effect.

Other side effects include diarrhea, nausea or vomiting. Tolcapone Tasmar is another COMT inhibitor that is rarely prescribed due to a risk of serious liver damage and liver failure. These medications were used for many years to help control the tremor associated with Parkinson's disease. Several anticholinergic medications are available, including benztropine Cogentin or trihexyphenidyl. However, their modest benefits are often offset by side effects such as impaired memory, confusion, hallucinations, constipation, dry mouth and impaired urination.

Doctors may prescribe amantadine alone to provide short-term relief of symptoms of mild, early-stage Parkinson's disease.

It may also be given with carbidopa-levodopa therapy during the later stages of Parkinson's disease to control involuntary movements dyskinesia induced by carbidopa-levodopa.

Deep brain stimulation involves implanting an electrode deep within your brain. The amount of stimulation delivered by the electrode is controlled by a pacemaker-like device placed under the skin in your chest. A wire that travels under your skin connects the device to the electrode. Deep brain stimulation. In deep brain stimulation DBS , surgeons implant electrodes into a specific part of your brain.

The electrodes are connected to a generator implanted in your chest near your collarbone that sends electrical pulses to your brain and may reduce your Parkinson's disease symptoms. Your doctor may adjust your settings as necessary to treat your condition. Surgery involves risks, including infections, strokes or brain hemorrhage.