Frequently Asked Questions

There are currently no blood or laboratory tests available to accurately diagnose Parkinson’s disease. Many times doctors look to someone’s family and medical history to see if there is a greater likelihood of an individual developing the disease. Standard neurological examinations are also usually administered along with brain scans or tests used to rule out the possibility of other diseases.

Computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) usually display normal looking results for people with Parkinson’s. However, the recently approved DaTscan method has been introduced to increase the accuracy of diagnosing the disease.

Research on this subject continues around the clock and all over the world. Currently studies are taking a look at how and while dopamine neurons begin to degenerate, ultimately causing Parkinson’s disease. Additional areas of interest include the delivery of substances and even genetic material to the brain in order to replace damaged neurons.

Although this research may come a bit late for people already diagnosed with the disease, geneticists continue to learn about which mutations and factors may lead to Parkinson’s from one generation to the next.

The discovery of Lewy Bodies and the development of alpha-synuclein proteins have already shown promise in understanding the hallmark sign of Parkinson’s.

Organizations like The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation are working tirelessly to secure the funding needed to wipe this debilitating disease out in the near future. For now, learning the early signs and symptoms can help you or a loved one start to receive the care they need to live a happy life.