Parkinsonism
Shaking and stiffness
Parkinsonism is a group of neurological conditions characterized by tremor, rigid muscles, slow movement, and impaired balance—the hallmarks of Parkinson's disease.
The term covers Parkinson's itself and similar syndromes caused by drugs, toxins, or other brain disorders: The antipsychotic medication caused drug-induced parkinsonism.
Doctors distinguish between Parkinson's disease and other forms of parkinsonism because treatment and prognosis differ.
Involuntary rhythmic shaking
- rigidityState of being unbending
- bradykinesiaPathological movement slowness
- dopamineReward-linked neural messenger
- basal gangliaSubcortical motor-control nuclei
muscle stiffness · shuffling gait · masked face · freezing · dystonia · dyskinesia · stooped posture
Dopamine precursor medication
- deep brain stimulationImplanted electrodes modulating neural circuits
- amantadineAntiviral with antiparkinsonian effects
- physical therapyRehabilitative movement-based medical care
- occupational therapyRestoring practical life abilities
speech therapy · wearing off · rehabilitation · exercise therapy · balance training · neuroprotection
Progressive loss of neurons
- antipsychoticsDrugs treating severe mental disorders
- toxinsHarmful biological substances
- manganeseTransition metal, element 25
- encephalitisInflammatory brain condition
head trauma · stroke · Wilson's disease · Huntington's · prion disease · hydrocephalus · carbon monoxide · pesticides
Triggered by pharmaceuticals
- MRIMagnetic body imaging
- neurological examClinical nervous system evaluation
- differential diagnosisSystematic comparison of possible conditions
- neurodegenerativeCausing brain cell death
red flags · symmetry · disease progression · biomarkers · neuroimaging · lumbar puncture
tremor
Involuntary rhythmic shaking
- rigidityState of being unbending
- bradykinesiaPathological movement slowness
- dopamineReward-linked neural messenger
basal ganglia · muscle stiffness · shuffling gait · masked face · freezing · dystonia · dyskinesia · stooped posture
levodopa
Dopamine precursor medication
- deep brain stimulationImplanted electrodes modulating neural circuits
- amantadineAntiviral with antiparkinsonian effects
- physical therapyRehabilitative movement-based medical care
occupational therapy · speech therapy · wearing off · rehabilitation · exercise therapy · balance training · neuroprotection
neurodegeneration
Progressive loss of neurons
- antipsychoticsDrugs treating severe mental disorders
- toxinsHarmful biological substances
- manganeseTransition metal, element 25
encephalitis · head trauma · stroke · Wilson's disease · Huntington's · prion disease · hydrocephalus · carbon monoxide · pesticides · welding fumes
drug-induced
Triggered by pharmaceuticals
- MRIMagnetic body imaging
- neurological examClinical nervous system evaluation
- differential diagnosisSystematic comparison of possible conditions
neurodegenerative · red flags · symmetry · disease progression · biomarkers · neuroimaging · lumbar puncture
Parkinsonismhyperkinesia
Excessive involuntary movement disorder
chorea · dyskinesia · Huntington's disease · myoclonus · tics