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Guidelines for sites linking to mayoclinic.orgAccording to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, at least 1 million people are believed to suffer from Parkinson's disease, and about 50,000 new cases are reported each year in the United States. These figures are expected to increase as the population ages.
Nearly 4,000 patients with Parkinson's disease are treated each year by neurology and neurosurgery specialists in Mayo Clinic's movement disorders programs. Patients receive state-of-the-art treatment and have opportunities to participate in valuable research studies and clinical trials. Read more about movement disorders.
No specific test can diagnose Parkinson's disease. Diagnosis is usually made based on the patient's history and a comprehensive neurologic examination. Similar symptoms can be caused by certain medications and by other degenerative brain conditions.
Getting an accurate diagnosis is key to starting appropriate treatment that may help manage symptoms for years. Mayo Clinic has extensive experience in the evaluation, differential diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's disease has no cure. People who are only mildly affected may need no treatment at first. As symptoms progress, various treatment approaches are available. Read more about Parkinson's disease treatment options.
Parkinson's disease (named after the doctor who documented the "shaking palsy" in 1817) is a progressive disorder that affects nerve cells (neurons) in the part of the brain that controls muscle movement. This group of nerve cells (substantia nigra) makes dopamine, a chemical which is important for transmitting signals from one group of brain cells to another to facilitate movement. As dopamine-producing cells are lost, walking, arm movements and facial expressions are affected. By the time Parkinson's disease symptoms appear, 50 to 80 percent or more of these cells have been lost.
Read more about the symptoms, causes and risk factors for Parkinson's disease at
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Parkinson's disease genetics research by Mayo Clinic scientist Matt Farrer, Ph.D., is featured in the Frontline documentary "My Father, My Brother, and Me." The broadcast and related information are available on the PBS Web site. A companion PBS program, Parkinson's in Minnesota, features Mayo neurologist James Maraganore, M.D and Mayo neurosurgeon Kendall H. Lee, M.D., Ph.D.
Watch Mayo Clinic neurologist Demetrius Maraganore, M.D., discuss a potential new therapy to stop the progression of Parkinson's Disease on YouTube.
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