Parkinsonian movement disturbances - a whole family of diseases

Tingling, trembling, forgetfulness, uncoordinated or slowed movements, muscle stiffness – all these complaints can occur in Parkinson`s disease. This disease affects about 28,000 people in Germany. Even today, frequently the diagnosis “Parkinson`s disease” is immediately made without further evaluation in case of the corresponding symptoms, and a pharmacologic treatment with dopamine replacement agents is started.

Studies have shown however that up to 25% of the patients treated for the diagnosis "Parkinson`s disease" do not actually suffer from a Parkinson syndrome.

The more we study the brain and its disease, the more clear it becomes: such complaints are not caused only by Parkinson. A whole range of other disorders  of the nervous system-that are now lumped under the term “atypical Parkinson diseases- trigger these complaints. A clear differentiation is not possible without further work-up.

When the diagnosis Parkinson cannot be made unambiguously, we recommend performing a DaTSCAN examination in order to be able to differentiate between essential tremor and the Parkinson syndrome.

Please read on:

• Parkinson
• Parkinson: The examination