Why Choose University of Utah Health?
Our fellowship-trained neurologists have undergone extensive training related specifically to movement disorders. As leaders in their field, the Movement Disorders Clinic is best equipped to manage Parkinson’s disease symptoms and medications at all stages of the disease. At U of U Health, our collaborative team of experts meets regularly to recommend and create customized treatment plans for each of our patients. Our mission is to give each of our patients high-quality, seamless, coordinated care.
Parkinson’s disease is a complicated disease that requires the expertise of many specialists and therapists to diagnose and manage:
- Neurologists
- Neurosurgeons
- Neuropsychiatrists
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Social workers and other professionals experienced in managing Parkinson’s
Parkinson's Disease Clinical Trials & Research
As part of an academic medical center, U of U Health is a leading institution in Parkinson's disease treatment research. Learn more about this important work.
Division of Movement Disorders Research
Clinical Trials
What Is Parkinson's Disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that mainly affects your movement, but also affects many other parts of your body. The classic signs of Parkinson’s disease include tremor, slowness of movement, and muscle stiffness that make everyday tasks difficult, such as walking or talking. Most people who develop the disease are older than 60, but younger people can also have the disease.
Early Signs of Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson’s disease is often initially subtle. You could mistake the symptoms as normal signs of aging. At first, symptoms may only appear on one side of your body, such as a tremor or slight shaking in your fingers, thumbs, hands, or chin. You’ll likely notice these symptoms while your body is at rest.
You may also experience other early motor signs:
-
Muscle stiffness and pain that doesn’t go away
-
Slowness of movement with difficulty with fine motor movements
-
Changes in gait and balance
-
Handwriting that looks smaller and closer together
-
Decreased ability to move your facial muscles to express emotion
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, consult your primary care physician.
Parkinson's Disease Symptoms
The type and intensity of symptoms varies for each person. Most people experience one or more of the main motor signs of Parkinson’s disease:
-
Tremors (trembling) in your hands, arms, legs, chin, or head
-
Muscle stiffness (rigidity) in your arms, legs, or torso
-
Slowed movements (bradykinesia)
-
Poor balance and coordination, which may cause falls
Other Symptoms
- Decrease in automatic movements
- Blinking
- Smiling
- Swinging your arms as you walk
- Changes in walking patterns that cause you to drag your feet or take smaller steps
- Changes in speech
- Speaking softly
- Slurring your words
- Sounding monotone
- Hesitating before speaking
- Difficulty writing
- Depression and anxiety
- Cognitive changes, including dementia
- Visual hallucinations
- Trouble sleeping, such as acting out your dreams unknowingly in your sleep
- Difficulty swallowing or chewing
- Constipation
- Urinary difficulties, such as urge to urinate more
- Low blood pressure while standing
- Oily, flaky, or inflamed skin
- Loss of smell
Parkinson's Disease Causes
Parkinson's disease occurs when neurons (nerve cells) in your brain gradually die. This causes a lack of dopamine, a chemical messenger. Decreased dopamine levels cause slowed movements, rigid muscles, and other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
In most cases, Parkinson’s disease is likely caused by a combination of genes and environmental and lifestyle influences.
Parkinson’s Disease Risk Factors
Age and gender are the biggest risk factors for developing Parkinson’s disease. Men over the age of 60 are more likely to develop it.
Exposure to chemicals may also increase your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Pesticides and herbicides as well as long-term exposure to solvents like trichloroethylene (TCE) have been linked to Parkinson’s disease. Research has identified other environmental factors that may increase your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
Is Parkinson’s Disease Hereditary?
In some families, a gene mutation or variety of genetic changes increases your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Genetics play a role in about 10 percent of Parkinson’s cases, with most being the early-onset form of the disease.
Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis
There’s no single test for Parkinson’s disease. Our neurologists at U of U Health use your medical history and the findings from your neurological exam to diagnose you.
In some cases, we will use the following tests to help confirm your diagnosis:
-
Blood tests
-
Imaging studies
-
Skin biopsies
-
Cerebrospinal fluid analysis
Parkinson's Disease Treatment
There is no cure for Parkinson’s, but we have many treatment options to manage symptoms. Every patient’s treatment for Parkinson’s disease will differ. We often use medication combined with rehabilitation. In other cases, we use surgery to help alleviate symptoms for some patients. Regular exercise has been shown to possibly slow down the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s Disease Medications
There are many medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Levodopa is one of the most common Parkinson’s disease medications. Levodopa can be taken one of three ways:
- By mouth
- An inhaler
- A pump that gives you the medication continuously
Your neurologist may prescribe you other medications in addition to Levodopa to help minimize motor fluctuations (periods when your symptoms come back after your medicine wears off) or uncontrolled, involuntary movements (dyskinesia) that may occur with Levodopa.
Deep Brain Stimulation
When medication no longer controls your symptoms adequately, deep brain stimulation may offer a way to improve your quality of life. During the procedure, a neurosurgeon will place electrodes (leads) in specific areas of your brain. The leads are connected with a wire to a very small neurostimulator (electrical generator). Your neurosurgeon implants the neurostimulator under your collarbone. The electrical stimulation will help alleviate tremors, stiffness, and slowness of movement.
Focused Ultrasound
Focused ultrasound is a noninvasive option to treat tremor associated with Parkinson’s disease. Deep parts of your brain are targeted and small lesions are made in those critical parts of the brain to help control the tremor associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson's Voice Treatment
Our Voice Disorders Center offers treatment for patients with Parkinson's disease to treat Parkinson's voice. Our speech language pathologists offer a two-part speech therapy program called SPEAK OUT!® and The LOUD Crowd®.
Find a Parkinson's Disease Specialist
Schedule an Evaluation With a Neurologist
Call 801-585-7575 to make an appointment. You will need a referral from your neurologist, primary care physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or other health care provider. Our office will verify your insurance benefits when you make an appointment.
Resources for Our Patients
Hear From Our Patients
Susan Veater was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2015. She started having tremors that worsened over the next six years despite trying many different medications. Since medical therapy was no longer sufficient enough to control her symptoms, she was referred to a neurosurgeon who recommended she undergo deep brain stimulation.
