Parkinson’s syndrome, also known as Parkinsonism syndrome and atypical Parkinsonism syndrome, refers to any condition that involves the types of movement problems observed in Parkinson’s disease. This includes movement problems such as bradykinesia (slowed movement), tremors, and stiffness of the limbs. Show
In this article, we will provide insight on Parkinson’s syndrome vs. Parkinson’s disease, diagnosis and treatment, and future methods for early, accurate Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Parkinson’s Syndrome vs. Parkinson’s DiseaseIn a recent poll of individuals with Parkinson’s disease, more than one in four (26%) participants reported having been misdiagnosed. Obtaining an accurate diagnosis is fundamental to receiving appropriate and effective treatment; however, many conditions can mimic Parkinson’s disease. Here is a quick breakdown of Parkinson’s syndrome vs. Parkinson’s disease. What Is Parkinson’s Disease?Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is most commonly known for affecting function and movement, though it also affects cognition, particularly as the disease progresses. Parkinson’s disease primarily impacts dopaminergic, or dopamine-producing, neurons in a specific area of the brain known as the substantia nigra. Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter that transmits signals between neurons and plays a crucial role in movement and motor control. The lack of dopamine makes it challenging for the brain to coordinate muscle movements and can also contribute to mood and cognitive issues later in the disease course. Patients with Parkinson’s disease also lose nerve endings that produce norepinephrine, a chemical messenger of the sympathetic nervous system responsible for controlling a wide range of functions in the body, such as blood pressure and heart rate. What Is Parkinson’s Syndrome?As mentioned above, Parkinson’s syndrome is a general term that refers to any condition that causes the types of movement problems observed in Parkinson’s disease. In other words, while Parkinson’s disease is the most common cause of Parkinson’s syndrome, many other conditions can cause Parkinson’s syndrome. These include:
Other causes include:
Parkinson’s Syndrome vs. Parkinson’s Disease: Diagnosis and TreatmentCurrently, there is no single test for Parkinson’s disease or Parkinson’s syndrome—no brain scan or lab test (e.g. blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine) can provide a definitive diagnosis. Instead, doctors diagnose Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s syndrome “clinically,” meaning a diagnosis is dependent on medical history, answers to certain questions, a physical examination, and the presence of specific physical symptoms. Typically, the process for obtaining a diagnosis follows these general steps:
There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease. Treatments for Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s syndrome are currently very symptom-oriented. Doctors typically prescribe a combination of multiple effective medications in accordance with symptoms present in a given patient. Medications prescribed to treat Parkinson’s disease symptoms include:
There is a bit of overlap in treatment for Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s syndrome. Dopaminergic therapy, the most common treatment used for Parkinson’s disease, can be effective in treating some causes of Parkinson’s syndrome, but not all. For example, while individuals with PSP may benefit from dopaminergic treatment (often in a higher dose than patients with Parkinson’s disease), individuals with MSA often do not benefit from this treatment approach. Other common treatments for both Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s syndrome include lifestyle interventions (e.g. diet and exercise plans), physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy. Some patients with Parkinson’s disease may benefit from a neurosurgical technique called deep brain stimulation (DBS). The Future of Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosis: AI-Enabled Precision DiagnosisAt Altoida, we are building the world’s-first Precision Neurology platform and app-based medical device—backed by 11 years of clinical validation—to accelerate and improve drug development, neurological disease research, and patient care. By completing a 10-minute series of augmented reality and motor activities designed to simulate complex Activities of Daily Living on a smartphone or tablet, Altoida’s device extracts and provides robust measurements of neurocognitive function across 13 neurocognitive domains. Our device measures and analyzes nearly 800 multimodal cognitive and functional digital biomarkers. Through the collection of highly granular data from integrated smartphone or tablet sensors, Altoida’s device produces comprehensive neurocognitive domain scores. This data can be tracked longitudinally to reveal trends and patterns while flagging concerning ones. In 2021, our device received Breakthrough Device designation by the FDA. Altoida's platform has demonstrated the ability to predict conversion from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer's disease with a high degree of accuracy. Currently, we are working to enable early and accurate diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease through AI-powered precision diagnosis. Our technology will be utilized to monitor disease progression as well as to measure therapeutic response in Parkinson’s disease patients. To learn more about fall risk for dementia patients or about utilizing Altoida’s Precision Neurology platform, contact us today. Contact Us What is the most common cause of parkinsonism?While genetics is thought to play a role in Parkinson's, in most cases the disease does not seem to run in families. Many researchers now believe that Parkinson's results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors, such as exposure to toxins.
What is meant by parkinsonism?Parkinsonism is a general term that refers to a group of neurological disorders that cause movement problems similar to those seen in Parkinson's disease such as tremors, slow movement and stiffness.
Can you have Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism?Parkinsonism refers to several conditions — including Parkinson's disease — that have similar symptoms and features. However, Parkinson's disease makes up about 80% of all cases of parkinsonism, making it the most common form by far.
What is life expectancy with parkinsonism?The median survival in patients with PD was 5.5 [4.7;7.2] years, compared to 9.4 [8.5;10.6] years in matched controls. In patients with atypical parkinsonism, the median survival was 3.3 [2.9;4.1] years, compared to 5.6 [4.8;6.7] years in controls.
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