Understanding Parkinson's Disease

Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease

How are patients with Parkinson's disease diagnosed?

  • At least two of the motor symptoms, including tremor at rest or bradykinesia, need to be identified in order for a clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) to be made1,2
  • There is a great deal of heterogeneity among patients and none of these signs are unique to PD1
  • For more information about the European guidelines for early and advanced PD, please refer to the latest European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS)3 guidelines or your local authorities3,4

View references

  1. Fahn S. Description of Parkinson's disease as a clinical syndrome. Ann NY Acad Sci 2003; 991: 1-14.
  2. Ward CD, Gibb WR. Research diagnostic criteria for Parkinson's disease. Adv Neurol 1990; 53: 245-249.
  3. Horstink M et al. Review of the therapeutic management of Parkinson's disease. Eur J Neurol 2006; 13: 1170-1202.
  4. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Parkinson's disease: diagnosis and management in primary and secondary care. NICE 2006. Last accessed: August 2009. (http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG35).

Close