If you have been diagnosed, but with Parkinsonism, not Parkinson's, you may be confused about the implications.
The term “parkinsonism” refers to a group of diseases that are all linked to an insufficiency of dopamine in the basal ganglia — the part of the brain that controls movement. Symptoms include tremor, bradykinesia (extreme slowness of movement), flexed posture, postural instability, and rigidity. A diagnosis of parkinsonism requires the presence of at least two of these symptoms, one of which must be tremor or bradykinesia.
By far the most common form of parkinsonism is idiopathic, or classic, Parkinson’s disease, but for a significant minority of diagnoses — about 15 percent of the total — one of the Parkinson’s plus syndromes (PPS) may be present.
The major Parkinson's plus syndromes or parkinsonisms are:
Corticobasal Degeneration
Lewy Body Dementia
Multiple System Atrophy
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Do you need more information or resources specific to one of these Parkinson's Plus syndromes?
Do you have more questions about the symptoms of PD? Ask the experts your questions directly using our online form, or call our helpline at (800) 457-6676.
