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What Doctor Treats Parkinson’s

Why Should You See A Specialist

Alternative Treatments for Parkinson’s Disease

Movement disorder specialists are more likely to be aware of which healthcare professionals may be helpful with day-to-day challenges.

These professionals may include physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and nutritionists.

Many movement disorder specialists perform clinical or basic science research in addition to caring for patients, making them more likely to discuss the role and importance of clinical trials.

Recent research shows that people newly diagnosed with PD who went to a neurologist lived longer than those who saw a primary care provider in fact, they were 20 percent less likely to have died after six years and 20 percent less likely to need placement in a skilled nursing facility . After one year of follow up, they seemed less likely to have experienced injuries from falls they were 14 percent less likely to have broken a hip

Managing And Optimizing Medications

There are dozens of medications available to treat movement disorders. Movement disorder specialists know how to prescribe the right medication in the right form at the right dose at the right time — all while minimizing unwanted side effects. These decisions can be affected by symptoms, disease severity, and other conditions. A movement disorder specialist will consider your unique situation and tailor a medication regimen to your lifestyle. That way you get the most benefit during the times you need it most — when you’re most active.

Bwh: Comprehensive Treatment For Patients With Parkinsons Disease

The Movement Disorder Program at BWH provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for patients with movement disorders, including Parkinsons disease, tremor, and dystonia . The Programs team of physicians, nurses, and researchers is dedicated to advancing the understanding and treatment of Parkinsons disease and related disorders. The Program is a collaboration between BWH and Massachusetts General Hospital working with the national Parkinson Study Group. In addition to Parkinsons disease, the Program provides comprehensive care for patients with other movement disorders such as Tourette syndrome, tremor, and dystonia .

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Finding Other Parkinsons Caregivers

Your will be your main caregiver for Parkinsons. But other doctors and therapists will also be important. For instance, you might also see a specialist in internal medicine or geriatrics , a doctor who specializes in treating elderly patients.

Other caregivers you may see include:

  • Speech pathologist: This person can help you use your voice better and improve your speech. Speech pathologists also treat swallowing problems that are common with Parkinsons.
  • Physical therapist: This caregiver can help you maintain muscle strength and stay flexible. also can help relieve , improve balance, and prevent falls. You may work with this therapist at a physical therapy center and continue therapy on your own at home.
  • : This therapist can help you remain independent at work and at home. You may learn safer and easier ways to dress, bathe, use devices, and move around your environment.

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Besides Medication How Else Can I Manage The Disease

What Are The Symptoms Of Advanced Parkinson

There are multiple lifestyle choices and home remedies that you can incorporate to help improve your PD symptoms.4,5

  • Exercise: Exercise can benefit people at every stage of PD to enhance or maintain balance, endurance, flexibility, and strength. Studies show exercise can improve your symptoms no matter what you exercise you do.
  • Alternative medicine: Tai Chi, massage, meditation, yoga, Alexander technique, and pet therapy can all help with balance, flexibility, and emotional stability that can sometimes be challenging for people with PD.
  • Nutrition: Maintaining a healthy diet is important, and adding plenty of liquid, fiber, fresh fruits, and vegetables, and healthy fats to your diet can help constipation that can affect people with PD and improve your overall health.

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Who Is Brain Tune Up For

Looking for answers can be frustrating, especially if you get the same ones over and over again. If you are looking for an alternative functional medicine treatment for Parkinsons disease, one thats effective and improves the quality of your life, Brain Tune Up! is for you.

Here are some of the other reasons people join Dr. Sharlins program:

  • They want a drug-free solution
  • They want to work with someone they can trust an experienced professional with the right qualifications who knows what they are talking about
  • They want to find the root cause of their condition, rather than settling for band-aid solutions
  • They want personalized care that views each patient as a whole individual
  • They believe in the benefit of a functional medicine approach and want to try it for themselves

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Members Of The Healthcare Team

Who should make up your care team? At a minimum you will need:

  • A primary care healthcare provider who looks after your day-to-day medical needs. This may be someone who you have seen for many years and knows you well, or you may need to find a primary care healthcare provider.
  • A neurologist who specializes in movement disorders. This is most important as a neurologist in movement disorders will likely be able to help you find others who are experienced in Parkinsons disease to fill out your healthcare team.
  • A counselor or psychiatrist or psychologist who can help you manage potential emotional and mental health problems is they arise
  • Allied health professionals like physical therapists, occupational therapists, sleep medicine specialists and so forth. Your neurologist should be able to help you find the allied health professionals right for you.
  • Yourself Part of being an empowered patient is playing an active role in your care.
  • Your partner Parkinsons disease can have a tremendous impact on relationships, and including your partner or other family members can be very helpful in managing the disease.

All of these people will, of course, need to communicate with one another, but the key figure for management of your Parkinsons symptoms will be your neurologist. So how do you find a neurologist who is right for you?

Dont overlook your own role as a very important member of your healthcare team, as well as that of your family.

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Parkinsons Disease Atypical And Secondary Parkinsonism

  • More severe tremors in both hands
  • A slowing of movement
  • Dragging the feet
  • Difficulty in writing
  • Muscle stiffness or rigidity
  • Medications can trigger the condition, including from amphetamines, calcium channel blockers and drugs used to treat nausea and major psychiatric disorders like psychosis
  • Repeated head trauma
  • Some neurodegenerative disorders such as multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy
  • Exposure to toxins like carbon monoxide, cyanide and organic solvents
  • Some brain lesions or tumors
  • Metabolic disorders such as chronic liver failure and hypoparathyroidism
  • Lewy body dementia

Diagnosing Parkinsons Disease Treating Parkinsons Disease

  • The combination of carbidopa and levodopa is used to introduce more dopamine to the brain.
  • Dopamine agonists mimic the effects of dopamine in the brain.
  • MAO-B inhibitors prevent the breakdown of brain dopamine.
  • Catechol O-methyltransferase inhibitors prolong the effect of levodopa therapy.
  • Oral medication, such as Botox®
  • Deep brain stimulation
  • Intrathecal administration of baclofen

Deep Brain Stimulation

What Is Parkinsons Disease Definition Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Stages Risk Factors Pathophysiology Medications Treatment

How To Get Relief from Parkinson Disease : Parkinson’s Disease VitaLife Show Episode 204

Parkinsons disease is a disorder involving brain that leads to movement and non-movement symptoms in patients. Some of the commonly occurring symptoms of Parkinsons disease include shaking, stiffness, difficulty while walking, coordination issues, and balance problems. The symptoms of Parkinsons disease typically begin slowly and get worse with time. With the progression of disease, people might suffer from difficulties with speech and walking. In addition, the patients with Parkinsons disease also suffer from behavioral and mental changes that include fatigue, memory issues, depressions, and sleep problems. The incidence of Parkinsons disease is higher than the combined diagnosis of other neurological disorders like Lou Gehrigs disease, muscle dystrophy, and multiple sclerosis.

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Healthcare Providers Who Treat Parkinson’s Disease

The first health care provider you see for Parkinsons disease will probably be your primary care doctor. You may see this doctor as you go through diagnosis and start treatment for the disease. But, your doctor will probably refer you to neurologist, too. That doctor is specially trained to diagnose and treat nervous system diseases like Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s is hard to diagnose and treat. There are no simple tests for it. The disease also acts differently in different people. There are many treatment options. And, what works for someone else might not work for you. All of this means that you need a doctor with lots of experience diagnosing and treating Parkinson’s disease.

The Parkinsons Disease Foundation suggests going one step further. It suggests finding a movement disorders specialist. This expert is a neurologist who has extra training in Parkinson’s. A movement disorder specialist is likely to be the most up-to-date on new research.

To find a movement disorders specialist:

  • Ask your primary care doctor for a referral.
  • Look for a movement disorder center at the hospital closest to you.
  • Ask other people with Parkinson’s for a recommendation.
  • Search Healthgrades.com for movement disorder specialists and other neurologists in your area who treat Parkinsons.

Accurate Parkinsons Disease Diagnosis

Parkinsons is challenging to diagnose because symptoms, such as difficulty walking, can be a sign of other movement disorders. Some people have parkinsonism. This group of diseases causes Parkinsons-like symptoms that do not respond to Parkinsons treatments.

At Cedars-Sinai, we consider your health history and perform a nervous system exam before confirming a Parkinsons diagnosis. Our years of experience enable us to detect subtle symptoms that do not show up on other tests.

Tests may include:

Levodopa Testing

Testing your response to a Parkinsons drug, levodopa, allows us to rule out some other movement disorders. Levodopa boosts dopamine levels and is not an effective treatment for other movement disorders. If your symptoms improve with levodopa, you likely have Parkinsons.

DaTscan Test

We may use this noninvasive imaging test to help rule out Parkinsonian syndrome. This group of disorders causes movement problems similar to Parkinsons but might not stem from the disease. Learn more about DaTscan.

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Review Your Treatment Plan

Besides these basic questions, the most important way to choose the neurologist you will work with is by listening to the treatment plan she puts together for you. Does it make sense? Does your healthcare provider discuss it with you after considering your personal needs, goals, and symptoms? Does she mention that the treatment plan needs to be flexible and be re-evaluated over time? Does she try to integrate the plan into your everyday life and needs?

You need to use your common sense when choosing a Parkinsons disease neurologist/specialist. You cannot healthcare provider yourself. You need to trust at some point that this highly trained specialist knows what he or she is doing.

Risk Factors For Parkinson’s Disease

Medications for Parkinson

While a primary cause for PD is not yet known, certain risk factors can increase a persons likelihood of developing the disease:

  • Age: PD is rare in young people. People who develop the disease are usually around 60 or older, and the risk increases with age.
  • Exposure to environmental toxins: Exposure to certain herbicides and pesticides can increase risk.
  • Gender: Men are more likely to develop PD than women. On average, three men will develop the disease for every two women.
  • Heredity: Having a close relative with PD increases the chances of developing the disease. However, that risk is still small unless family members develop the disease at a young age.

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Finding The Right Doctor

Managing Parkinsons disease well can be challenging. Finding a doctor whos well-versed in PD and will help guide you on the journey makes it easier.

Its natural to begin by discussing initial symptoms with your family doctor or internist, who may refer you to a general neurologist or one specialized in movement disorders to rule out Parkinsons.

The Parkinsons Foundation recommends people diagnosed with PD seek out a movement disorders specialist one who can become a key player on your healthcare team. For people living far from an academic medical center or a specialist in private practice, we recommend a knowledgeable, nearby general neurologist for most of your care and then traveling a longer distance two to three times each year to see a specialist. Finding a specialist can seem like a daunting task, but it doesnt have to be. The Parkinsons Foundation can guide you step by step through the process of finding one.

What To Ask During The First Visit

Prepare a list of questions to help you better understand the doctors expertise and your treatment options. You likely will not be able to discuss them all in one visit. You may have more specific questions once you have a treatment plan. Questions you may want to start with include:

  • How many people with Parkinsons do you treat?
  • Do I need other tests to confirm my PD diagnosis or rule out other disorders that may present similar symptoms?
  • What PD treatment options do you suggest?
  • How do my other health conditions and medications affect my PD and how I treat it?
  • Do you know of any clinical studies that might be right for me to take part in?
  • Are you aware of any new PD research and treatments?
  • Are there lifestyle changes that can improve my PD symptoms?
  • If you are not available for me to contact you between visits, who may I communicate with and how?
  • Should I get a second opinion? Do you have any suggestions of doctors for me to contact?

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Dementia Signs And Symptoms

Despite many shared symptoms across Lewy body dementia diseases, people often store and recall information differently, depending on which cognitive disorder they are living with.

Adding and retaining new memories is often difficult for people living with Alzheimers disease. It may be challenging for someone with Alzheimers to remember a question or conversation just minutes after, or they may have forgotten events from the previous day. Encoding new information can be an issue. However, if a person experiencing PD thinking changes struggles retrieving a memory, they can often pull it up with a clue or a reminder.

This means people with PD dementia can store memories. Rather than primary encoding difficulty, they often experience retrieval challenges an executive dysfunction similar to difficulty multitasking or staying on track during conversations.

People with Alzheimers disease tend to have less awareness that they are hallucinating. A person with PD dementia or dementia with Lewy bodies can more often recognize that they are experiencing hallucinations. Its important for the care provider to ask the person experiencing changes Do you see things? People with PD-related dementia will often acknowledge that they do see things, are aware the hallucinations are not real and are not bothered by what they see.

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Find A Parkinsons Expert

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Finding a doctor who is an expert in Parkinsons disease can help you get the best possible care. Look for a neurologist, a doctor who works with brain and central nervous system conditions such as Parkinsons. When possible, a movement disorder specialist a neurologist with additional training to treat people with Parkinsons at every stage of the disease can be a key addition to a quality care team.

Neurologists with Parkinsons expertise and movement disorder specialists can often recommend other healthcare professionals who can help treat day-to-day challenges. A holistic, team-based care approach can help you live well with PD.

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Offering Advanced Treatment Options

Many movement disorder specialists have the expertise to administer chemodenervation therapies. These injections of toxins like botulinum into specific muscles can relieve symptoms like muscle spasms or excess saliva production. Movement disorder specialists identify the right target muscles and determine the right dose.

If youre a candidate for deep brain stimulation surgery, your movement disorder specialist will partner with a neurosurgeon to pinpoint the best site in your brain for DBS implantation. After surgery, theyll work with you to adjust your device settings to maximize benefit.

Ethics Questions Swirl Around Historic Parkinsons Experiment

They pulled into Cornells driveway two hours late. Kim grabbed the cooler and handed it to a waiting Cornell official, who carried it up to the cell facility. There, a technician loaded syringes with the brain cells. Then Kim saw the cells: They had formed very un-therapeutic-looking clumps. If this had been the day of the actual surgery, it would have been ruinous.

This, Kim thought, is why we do practice runs.

A month later, when the cells journeying from Boston to New York were to actually be transplanted, it seemed that Kims nearly decade-long project was cursed: He learned that Hanscom would be closed on Sept. 5, the day of the surgery. They had to leave from the much busier Logan Airport.

But the air ambulance was wheels up at 5 a.m. and arrived at Weill Cornell at 6:30. Technicians carefully sucked the cells into special syringes, which Song speed-walked to the surgical suite where the neurosurgeon and the patient awaited.

In late 2018, news reports said surgeons in Japan had, that October, performed an experimental procedure that had been on neurologists wish list for more than a decade: transplanting into the brain of a Parkinsons patient replacement cells created from the patients own skin cells using a Nobel-winning protocol. It was, claimed the reports, a first.

It wasnt.

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