Diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease

Especially in early stages, the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is challenging. Patients with a suspected diagnosis should always be transferred to a neurologist with special expertise in clinical differential diagnosis of movement disorders. The diagnosis should be confirmed by an established three-stage algorithm which involves the screening of clinical diagnostic criteria, possible exclusion criteria, special characteristics of atypical parkinsonian syndromes and supportive criteria. Besides, a secondary parkinsonian syndrome should be considered as a possible cause of the presented clinical symptoms. Instrumental diagnostic procedures can support the process of differential diagnosis.