Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects the dopamine-producing neurons in the brain.

Resulting in tremors, rigidity, and difficulty with movement, Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder worldwide.

There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but medication and therapy can help manage symptoms.

Monitoring the progression of Parkinson’s disease is crucial to adjust treatment plans, evaluate the effectiveness of current treatment and make decisions about future treatment strategies.

What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s symptoms can appear gradually over time and affect each person differently. The most common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include:.

Tremors or shaking in hands, fingers, chin or lips while at rest
Rigidity or stiffness in the limbs and trunk
Slowness or difficulty in initiating movement
Postural instability or impaired balance and coordination
Loss of automatic movements like blinking, smiling, or swinging of arms when walking.

Other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include:.

Fatigue and sleep disorders
Digestive problems and constipation
Mood changes and depression
Difficulty in swallowing
Speech impairment
Memory and cognition difficulties

How is Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosed?

There is no diagnostic test for Parkinson’s disease, and it can be challenging to diagnose in its early stages. A doctor will typically diagnose Parkinson’s disease based on the medical history, symptoms and physical exam.

The diagnosis may be confirmed through neurological tests that evaluate the patient’s motor function.

The most common diagnostic criteria for Parkinson’s disease are known as the “UK Brain Bank Criteria.” These criteria are based on four main clinical features:.

Bradykinesia
Rigidity
Tremors
Postural instability

How is Parkinson’s Disease Progression Monitored?

Monitoring Parkinson’s disease progression is essential in understanding the disease’s course, evaluating treatment effectiveness, and making informed decisions regarding future treatment methods.

Several strategies can be employed to monitor Parkinson’s disease progression, including.

Physical Examinations

A physical examination helps healthcare providers evaluate the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Healthcare providers can observe changes in physical symptoms and examine the patient’s motor function.

This evaluation includes assessing the patient’s posture, balance, stability, gait, and movement.

Medication and Therapy Management

Prescription of medications for Parkinson’s disease helps improve some symptoms by replacing the dopamine lost during the degeneration process.

Monitoring the effectiveness of medication and therapy can provide insight into how Parkinson’s disease is progressing. If a patient shows significant clinical improvement, it means the disease progression has temporarily slowed, whereas, if no improvement is seen, it could indicate that the disease is progressing rapidly.

Healthcare providers can adjust medication and therapy based on the patient’s disease progression.

Neuroimaging

Neuroimaging can identify structural changes in the brain, and its ability to track disease progression is useful for managing Parkinson’s disease.

Various neuroimaging techniques, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan, are used to monitor Parkinson’s disease progression. A healthcare provider can use neuroimaging to identify changes in the physical structure of the brain, measure decreased levels of dopamine, and evaluate the brain’s level of inflammation.

Biomarkers

Biomarkers are measurable indicators of disease activity. New tools like biomarkers are being developed to evaluate Parkinson’s disease progression.

Biomarkers can measure the level of certain proteins or neurotransmitters and the presence of alpha-synuclein. The ability to measure these indicators means that biomarkers are considered a useful way to monitor Parkinson’s disease progression.

Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs)

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are subjective evaluations of a patient’s symptoms and how the disease is affecting their quality of life.

Healthcare providers encourage patients to record their symptoms in a Parkinson’s Disease Diary or similar device. PRO’s such as the Movement Disorders Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) or Non-motor Symptom Scale (NMSS) provide evaluations of the progression of Parkinson’s disease.

Patients entering data in this manner allow healthcare providers to establish how their physical health is changing over time as Parkinson’s disease progresses.

Conclusion

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic condition with progressive symptoms that can impact physical, emotional and mental health.

There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but monitoring its progression can help guide treatment options and ensure Parkinson’s patients have the best possible care. Strategies such as physical examinations, neuroimaging, patient-reported outcomes, and therapy management and biomarkers can all help healthcare providers monitor Parkinson’s disease patients’ progression effectively.