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Parkinson's Asssesment Tools Used for Coordination

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative neurological disorder that is most prevalent in adults over 50. It is caused by damage to the nerve cells. Parkinson's disease was identified in England in 1817 by Dr. James Parkinson. It is characterized by tremors, particularly a pill-rolling movement between the thumb and finger. Other defining characteristics are rigidity of the body and slow muscle movement. Postural instability is another problem, which can lead to poor balance and falls.

  1. History and Examination

    • If Parkinson's disease is indicated, the patient will be referred to a neurologist.

      Because there is no definitive test for Parkinson's disease, history and physical examination are very important. If there are at least two of the three characteristic symptoms present --- tremor, muscular rigidity and postural instability --- the diagnosis usually is Parkinson's disease. However, the physician will perform a physical exam and take a careful overall assessment from the patient or a relative.

    Specialized Tests

    • The neurologist may order a magnetic resonance imaging scan to eliminate any other cause for the symptoms. The neurologist will then perform an assessment using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). This is a 41-item survey that assesses many factors, including activities of daily living and motor function. It asks the subject to rate various aspects of his life, including mood, motivation, speech, salivation, swallowing and handwriting. At present, the UPDRS is considered the gold standard assessment tool for Parkinson's disease.

    Other Tests

    • Another assessment tool is the Parkinson's Disease Rating Questionnaire. The neurologist will interview the patient about an array of physical conditions, including other possible causes of coordination problems such as Lyme disease, alcohol abuse and anxiety.

    Treatment

    • There is no cure for Parkinson's disease, but medication is effective for some patients. Deep brain stimulation also may be used, and this brings an improvement for some.

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