What Will Confirm the Diagnosis of Parkinsons Disease?
Underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis of Parkinson’s disease are common and there is no objective laboratory test that can identify the disease. Early in the course of Parkinson’s disease, symptoms can be very mild and may be confused with other problems, particularly in young adults. Too often, a younger person with Parkinson’s may be diagnosed with mental illness, because even the physician may suspect the disease only in older people. About 15% of patients who are evaluated for Parkinson’s disease turn out to have some other problem or are taking medications that trigger its symptoms. Therefore, a medical and personal history that includes any medications being taken and exposure to environmental toxins is very important. Often people who have parkinsonism — but not Parkinson’s disease — have additional neurologic symptoms. Parkinson’s is strongly suspected in patients who have a powerful early response to the drug levodopa, who have a tremor when their limb is relaxed, and whose sympto
