Treatment of Parkinson Disease

Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting 2% of the population over 70 with onset typically between 65 and 70 years. A group of proteins (principally alpha-synuclein in insoluble plaques) deposited in the central nervous system throughout the lifespan of patients are responsible for PD and related diseases. The clinical presentation of PD varies among individuals with differences in symptoms, severity, progression, and prognosis. In addition, PD bears a social stigma that presents a number of difficulities in disease management. Recent changes in PD management have created further challenges for general internal medicine providers. The goal of this review is to update general practitioners on current state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and practice strategies for PD.