Parkinson's Disease

There is no single test to diagnose this disease. Your neurologist will use your symptoms and results of multiple neurologic tests to diagnose the condition. Testing also helps to rule out other health conditions that can cause similar symptoms.

You may have some combination of these tests before you are diagnosed:

• Lab tests, such as blood or urine tests
• SPECT scan
• Other imaging tests, such as MRI, ultrasound and positron emission tomography (PET) scan

Your neurologist may try medications to see if your symptoms improve. If symptoms improve while you’re on specific medications, that can help us confirm an accurate diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.

Your neurologist may use one or more of these methods to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life:

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Neurologists use deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat some people with Parkinson’s. Our neurosurgeons have the expertise to perform DBS and other procedures using minimally invasive techniques.

Monthly Parkinson’s Clinic

We offer you convenient, streamlined care in our monthly Parkinson’s clinic. Learn more about this offering and how you can benefit.

Movement Disorders Clinical Trials

BIDMC researchers are continually researching new and effective treatment options for Parkinson’s disease. Ask your care team if there’s a current clinical trial that may be right for you.

If you have questions about clinical trials, call our clinical research coordinator at 617-667-9890.

Supportive Services

Our compassionate team is here for you and your family on each step of your journey. Get details on classes and support, including the Wellness Works Program, for those living with Parkinson’s disease.

The Division of Movement Disorders offers a clinic to give you the chance to meet with different medical specialists all on the same day. We hold the clinic on the fourth Wednesday of every month.

Candidates for the Monthly Parkinson's Clinic

You are eligible for the clinic if you meet these criteria:

• Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease
• Established patient with one of our movement disorders specialists
• Interest or need for two or more of the therapies listed above

Please ask your movement disorders specialist for more details during your next visit with us. Existing BIDMC patients can call 617-667-9890 to request an appointment.

What To Expect at the Outpatient Clinic

The Interdisciplinary Clinic is a half-day of scheduled appointments with your established neurologist and your choice of specialists. All visits take place in the neurology outpatient clinic at BIDMC in Boston.

Here is a sample schedule for an Interdisciplinary Clinic visit:

Specialty Consultations We Offer

Depending on your needs, you may choose to meet with specialists from these areas during the clinic:

Atypical Parkinson’s Clinic

On occasion, we also offer a half-day atypical parkinsonian syndromes clinic.

Medical advances in the diagnosis and treatment of movement and neurodegenerative disorders offer hope to patients and families while also guiding the treatment plans developed by our team of Parkinson's disease (PD) specialists. That’s why the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center at BIDMC actively participates in multi-center clinical trials evaluating new treatments for PD.

• We are members of the Parkinson Study Group, a national consortium of PD centers that carries out multi-center clinical trials of new medications for the treatment of PD.
• We participate in several other leading-edge clinical research studies of new medications for PD.
• We are actively participating in a National Institutes of Health initiative to identify therapies that may slow the progression of PD.
• We are a National Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, which provides us with access to funding for clinical research, community outreach, and educational projects.