Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a “clinical” diagnosis, based on a person’s medical history, symptoms, and physical exam. Although certain laboratory or imaging tests can be helpful in reaching a diagnosis, no single test can confirm PD. Among the tests currently used to support a PD diagnosis, or to rule out other conditions that can mimic PD, are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, the dopamine transporter scan (DaTscan) to look at how dopamine is transported in certain areas of the brain, Syn-One, or skin biopsies, and blood work.
Sometimes, a PD diagnosis is straightforward based on the presence of certain symptoms, but in other cases, it may take a number of clinic visits to make a definitive diagnosis. The best way to ensure a correct diagnosis of PD, or a similar condition, is to see a neurologist specializing in movement disorders. One of the leading Parkinson’s specialists is Dr. Michael Okun, National Medical Advisor for the Parkinson’s Foundation and Director of the Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at the University of Florida in Gainesville. In this podcast episode, he explains some of the current tools for making a Parkinson’s diagnosis, how they are used, and some of their limitations.
Follow and rate us on your favorite podcast platform to be notified when there’s a new episode! Let us know what other topics you would like us to cover by visiting parkinson.org/feedback.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.