Brief Answer:
How to diagnose Parkinson disease

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, thanks for asking from HCM.


I can understand your concern. There is no specific and accurate test for diagnosis of Parkinson. To diagnose Parkinson’s, the neurologist has to take a careful neurological history and performs complete neurological examination of yours. The diagnosis rests on the clinical information provided by the person with Parkinson’s and the findings of the neurological exam.

The doctor will look for following signs in you

- if your expression is animated or mask like face.

- Your arms are observed for tremor, which is present either when they are at rest, or extended. The tremors are coarse in Parkinson so easily noticable

- Is there stiffness in your limbs or neck?

- Can you rise from a chair easily or change posture during sleep? Usually diseased patient will be very slow and sometimes very irritated by inability to do so. It is "Bradykinesia".

- Do you walk normally or with short steps, and do your arms swing symmetrically? The doctor will pull you backwards. Usually Parkinson patient will walk with small steps, no arm swing and will gradually lean forward and may fall

- How quickly are you able to regain your balance?

The main role of any additional testing like MRI brain, lipid profile, USG doppler neck vessels is to exclude other diseases that imitate Parkinson’s disease, such as stroke or hydrocephalus.

- DaTscan can help in confirming diagnosis after clinical evaluation. This test just detects change in level of Dopamine molecule in brain whose metabolism is deranged in Parkinson, multi system atrophy, progressive supra nuclear palsy etc.

SO better consult a good neurologist who can examine you throughly. Do not believe in tests only.

Hope it will help you. If still in doubt, do let me know.
Thanks. Take care.

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