Parkinson's Disease

Pretty much everyone has had shaky hands, weird dreams or stumbled from time to time.

Usually, we chalk these things up to being hungry, overtired, thirsty or just stressed out. But when these things happen a lot, it’s time to get checked out. Why? Because they could be signs of Parkinson’s disease — the second most common degenerative brain disorder in the United States. And it can sometimes be tough to diagnose.

At Cleveland Clinic, we know the best test for diagnosing Parkinson’s disease is a physical exam by a movement disorder specialist (neurologist). Neurologists diagnose and treat all brain conditions, including ones that cause abnormal movements, like Parkinson’s disease. Our healthcare providers are committed to giving you the best, most compassionate care for your Parkinson’s disease, from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.

Why Choose Cleveland Clinic for Parkinson’s Disease Care?

Personalized care:

Because symptoms can vary from person to person, it’s important your treatment plan meets your specific needs. Our movement disorder specialists can access hundreds of medications and treatments for Parkinson’s disease. We’ll work with you to find the best treatment for you. Meet our team.

Trusted experts:

Cleveland Clinic specialists are experts who know what it takes to correctly diagnose your symptoms. In addition to neurologists, your care team may also include psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and nurses who all specialize in movement disorders. Whether you’re visiting us for the first time or need a second opinion, we’re here to give you the best, most compassionate Parkinson’s disease care.

Innovation and research:

As a teaching and research hospital, Cleveland Clinic leads clinical trials for Parkinson’s disease. We’re involved in multiple trials focusing on learning about the disease, new treatments to improve symptoms and even investigations to slow disease progression. If you’re interested in participating in a clinical trial, your provider can talk with you about this option.

Recognized expertise:

We’re a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence that meets extensive criteria in care, clinical research, professional training, community education and outreach.

Virtual visits:

Care doesn’t always have to take place in person. Virtual visits give you the option of meeting with your provider from the comfort of home. All you need is an internet connection and a smartphone, tablet or computer.

National recognition:

Cleveland Clinic is a trusted healthcare leader. We're recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for our expertise and care.

Diagnosing Parkinson’s Disease at Cleveland Clinic

The best test for diagnosing Parkinson’s disease is getting a physical exam and sharing your medical history with a provider who specializes in movement disorders. At Cleveland Clinic, we build a complete picture of every aspect of your life that Parkinson’s disease has affected.

We want to get to know you and that starts with a conversation. After going over your experiences, we’ll work with you to create a personalized treatment plan.

What to expect at your first appointment

When you come to see us for the first time, you’ll meet with a neurologist who specializes in movement disorders. Your provider will look at the ways you move and ask detailed questions. They’ll talk with you about your memory, mood and sleep patterns to see how your symptoms have affected your daily life.

They might also have you do more tests to rule out other conditions that could be causing your symptoms. These tests could include:

Blood tests.
CT scan (computed tomography scan).
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
PET scan (positron emission tomography scan).

While Parkinson’s disease is most common in adults over age 60, anyone can get it. About 10% of Parkinson’s disease cases are hereditary (run in families), and your provider may recommend genetic testing to investigate this.

Meet Our Parkinson’s Disease Team

Our team-based approach to Parkinson’s care means you may see specialists from many different areas as part of your treatment. In addition to neurologists, your team could include:

Providers Who Treat Parkinson’s Disease

Locations

Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations throughout Northeast Ohio, Florida, Nevada and London.

Treating Parkinson’s Disease at Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic’s movement disorder specialists understand that we can best manage your Parkinson’s disease when we factor every symptom into your treatment plan. Focusing on managing one symptom without keeping your other symptoms in mind might wind up making you feel worse.

Here are a few things your treatment plan might include:

Medications

With so many medications for Parkinson’s disease to choose from, your team will work to find the correct medication — or medications — for you. Cleveland Clinic has a big advantage when it comes to treating Parkinson’s disease because we’ve developed many new treatments through our own research and clinical trials. Most medications are oral (taken by mouth), but we might recommend botulinum toxin injections (Botox^®, Xeomin^®, Dysport^® or Myobloc^®) if we think it could help with your symptoms.

Brain stimulation

If your Parkinson’s disease is further along, your provider might recommend deep brain stimulation (DBS) or MR-guided focused ultrasound. Cleveland Clinic is one of the largest and most renowned places in the world for DBS for people with Parkinson’s disease.

Other support

Exercise also plays an important role in your treatment. We’ll help you create a workout program that meets your needs. We also offer shared medical visits to help you learn about Parkinson’s disease alongside others who also have it. You might feel better knowing there are others going through this, too. And they likely have many of the same questions and concerns.

Long-Term Care for Parkinson’s Disease at Cleveland Clinic

Because Parkinson’s disease is a chronic (lifelong), progressive condition, chances are you’ll want to talk about your options for long-term success. While you might not need more aggressive treatment right away, our healthcare providers can go over treatment options that might be right for you if and when your symptoms get worse.

If you’re in the later stages of Parkinson’s disease — or struggling to find relief for your symptoms — we’re here to help you find a treatment option that matches your needs. Your providers meet often to talk through what you need and work together to find the best treatment for you.

In addition to providers who care for your physical symptoms, your long-term care team may also include psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers. These team members help you cope with emotional challenges — like anxiety and depression — that may come with Parkinson’s disease. They can offer counseling and therapy if you need it.

Taking the Next Step

Think of managing Parkinson’s disease like being on a seesaw. If you focus too much on improving one symptom, you might make another symptom worse. Cleveland Clinic’s movement disorders specialists are committed to helping you manage your Parkinson’s disease and relieving your symptoms in a way that works best for you.