According to a 2022 Parkinson’s Foundation-backed study, nearly 1 million people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease every year in the United States. And, by 2030, it is estimated that 1.2 million people in the United States will be living with Parkinson’s. This is a much greater growth rate than previously estimated.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease of the brain without a cure. While the well-recognized hallmark of the disease is tremor, destruction of the dopamine-making cells of the brain affects every body system.
Often, people have symptoms of Parkinson’s long before it is diagnosed. Early symptoms can be vague, such as a soft or low voice, smaller handwriting, constipation, trouble sleeping, and dizziness or fainting. Not all persons with Parkinson’s have tremor or difficulty walking early on.
Diagnosing Parkinson’s disease can be challenging, as there is no one specific test. It requires expert practitioner observation and history-taking. The international Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society has published criteria for diagnosing Parkinson’s disease. A person must have bradykinesia (slowness of movement) and one of the following: shaking or tremor in limb that occurs while it is at rest; stiffness or rigidity of the arms, legs or trunk; and/or trouble with balance or falls.
Lab and radiology testing—such as MRI, CT scans and dopamine transporter scans (DaT, a dopamine-measuring technique)—and genetic testing may be ordered to exclude other diagnosis. Skin biopsy testing may also be helpful but is not necessary for diagnosis.
A negative DaT scan will only indicate that a person does not have Parkinson’s disease. However, it is important to note that very early in the disease, before dopamine production is measurably dysfunctional, a test result could also be negative. A positive DaT scan can indicate Parkinson’s disease, and similar diseases that result in loss of dopamine, such as multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy. In this way, a DaT scan can be helpful in diagnosing or excluding Parkinson’s disease, but it is not the gold standard.
Skin biopsy testing has been developed to detect the protein that causes dopamine-producing cells to die, called alpha-synuclein. Alpha-synuclein is also present in other diseases, such as Lewy body dementia and multiple system atrophy. For this reason, skin biopsy is not a definitive test for diagnosis, but may be a helpful tool.
For accurate diagnosis and treatment, it is important to see a practitioner familiar with Parkinson’s disease and related neurologic conditions. In Parkinson’s, as with many chronic conditions, a quality life is directly impacted by quality care.
Carroll Hospital’s free Parkinson’s Disease Education & Support Group meets the second Wednesday of each month from 1 to 2 p.m. The meetings feature guest speakers on a variety of Parkinson’s disease-related topics. Family members and caregivers are also welcome to attend.
Meetings take place virtually or in person in the support group room at the Tevis Center for Wellness. No registration is required; call 410-871-7000 if you would like to attend the group virtually.
Christina McGann is an RN community educator at the Tevis Center for Wellness.
