4 Treatment Options for Parkinson’s Disease
April 14, 2025
Each year, approximately 90,000 new cases of Parkinson’s disease (PD) are diagnosed in the United States. While there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, understanding the symptoms and knowing about all the treatments available can better prepare you for your diagnosis.
Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder that falls under the category of Parkinsonism, a group of neurological conditions that cause movement difficulties. The disease occurs when dopamine-producing neurons in the brain deteriorate, leading to progressive symptoms that require ongoing medical management.
As an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) specializing in Movement Disorders, I work alongside Enrique Urrea-Mendoza, MD, the region’s only movement disorders neurologist. Together, we provide specialized care at TMH Physician Partners—Neurology, home to the only Movement Disorders Clinic in the Big Bend region.
Does Parkinson’s Only Affect Movement?
While the primary symptoms of Parkinson’s disease involve movement difficulties, the condition can also present with non-motor symptoms, which often appear years before noticeable movement issues. One theory for this is that the clumps of abnormally accumulated protein found within nerve cells, Lewy bodies, develop in the brainstem first, causing specific non-motor symptoms controlled by that area of the brain. Over time, the Lewy bodies migrate up the brainstem until they reach the midbrain, which controls motor symptoms.
Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson’s:
- Depression
- Sleep disturbances
- Changes in memory and thinking
- Constipation or urinary problems
- Loss of smell
Motor Symptoms of Parkinson’s:
-
Tremors of the hands, arms, legs, jaw and face
◦ The tremors in people with young-onset Parkinson’s disease can sometimes appear faster and somewhat different from the classic parkinsonian resting tremor seen in those with late-onset PD.
- Rigidity of the limbs and trunk
- Bradykinesia (slowness of movement)
- Postural instability or impaired balance and coordination
Diagnosis & Treatment Options
There is no single test to diagnose Parkinson’s disease. Instead, a diagnosis is based on medical history, symptoms and a physical exam. Additional tests, such as brain MRI, dopamine transporter (DaT) scans, skin biopsy and blood work, can help confirm the diagnosis or rule out similar conditions.
Receiving a diagnosis may feel overwhelming, but it allows you to:
- Plan with your family about your care
- Adjust your lifestyle to disease progression
- Reduce anxiety by understanding your condition
- Explore early treatment options for better symptom management
While Parkinson’s currently has no cure, a variety of treatment options are available:
1. Neurological Care and Medication Management
Regular visits with a movement disorders specialist ensure that medication is adjusted as the disease progresses. The most common medication, levodopa, helps replenish dopamine, but long-term use may require careful management to maintain effectiveness.
The United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved VYALEV, the first and only 24-hour continuous infusion of levodopa-based therapy for moto fluctuations in advanced Parkinson’s disease, allowing for personalized dosing based on individual needs during all hours of the day. Dr. Urrea was a researcher on the effects of this drug when it was in the trial phase!
2. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
When medication is no longer effective in managing your movement disorder, deep brain stimulation (DBS) may be an option. Through a minimally invasive procedure, DBS delivers a continuous electrical current to a specific brain area that controls the area affected by the movement disorder. Home to a fellowship-trained functional neurosurgeon, Matthew Davis, MD, patients diagnosed for five years or more may be eligible for the surgery.
For DBS, there are three companies that make DBS devices. While each device works the same way, the FDA has approved the first adaptive, or self-adjusting, DBS system, BrainSense. The system can adjust stimulation in response to brain signals, allowing for more symptom control.
3. Nutrition and Exercise
Lifestyle changes significantly impact Parkinson’s progression.
The brain and gastrointestinal (GI) system are connected. Research strongly suggests a link between the gut and Parkinson’s - eating a balanced diet may improve your symptoms. A high-fiber, whole food, plant-fueled diet, with high consumption of fruits and vegetables (such as the Mediterranean diet) can increase beneficial bacteria. The Mediterranean-style diet is associated with lower risks of developing Parkinson’s, higher microbial diversity and improved heart and cognitive health.
Parkinson’s symptoms that limit your physical ability (rigidity, Bradykinesia, etc.) improve with regular cardiovascular exercise. Your daily activities – washing dishes, folding laundry, shopping – can help delay the degeneration of motor symptoms as well as continue to move as it helps the brain maintain old connections and form new ones.
4. Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy
As Parkinson’s progresses, working with specialized therapists can help manage symptoms like movement difficulties, speech changes and fine motor challenges. Physical therapy can help improve your strength, flexibility, balance and coordination and reduce the risk of falls. Occupational therapy helps you continue your daily activities, adapt the tasks to make them easier and help with your fine motor skills, such as handwriting. With Parkinson’s you may experience trouble swallowing – speech therapy can provide exercises to improve this as your disease progresses.
Finding Support Right for You
Coping with Parkinson’s can be emotionally challenging as you navigate through different challenges and treatments. Finding support from others facing similar experiences and resources to help with your disease can be incredibly helpful. At Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH), our team of social workers connect patients and caregivers with:
- Support groups tailored to different stages of the disease, including TMH’s Parkinson’s Disease Support Network
- Educational workshops and resources
- Caregiver support programs
If you or a loved one is experiencing movement problems, our multidisciplinary team is here to provide comprehensive care. We believe in a patient-centered approach, offering personalized treatment plans to help you live a fulfilling life.
To schedule an appointment at our Movement Disorders Clinic, call 850-431-5001.
Specialty Care
TMH Physician Partners - Neurology
2473 Care Drive
Suite 102
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: 850-431-5001
