Parkinson's Disease: ClassificationTopic OverviewParkinson's disease and parkinsonismParkinson's disease is named for Dr. James Parkinson, who in 1817 first described the features of this illness. Features of Parkinson's disease include tremor, slow movement (bradykinesia), and rigid muscles (rigidity). People with parkinsonism may have Parkinson's disease or another illness with similar symptoms. Other conditions and diseases that cause parkinsonism may also cause symptoms that are not seen with Parkinson's disease. These conditions may be treated differently than Parkinson's disease. Unlike Parkinson's, some conditions that cause parkinsonism are reversible.
Stages of Parkinson's diseaseIt may be helpful for people with Parkinson's disease and their families to be familiar with some of the ways the disease is described. Experts describe symptoms and stages of the disease differently. Parkinson's disease sometimes is described as early, moderate, or advanced.
Parkinson's disease may also be described by five stages:
Medical professionals may refer to this scale when discussing the disease and decisions about treatment. Related InformationCredits
ByHealthwise Staff Current as ofOctober 9, 2017
Current as of: October 9, 2017 Author: Healthwise Staff Medical Review: Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine & G. Frederick Wooten, MD - Neurology |
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