Parkinson's Syndrome Diagnosis

Parkinson's syndrome is a general term for a group of symptoms, referring to a class of disorders with Parkinson-like manifestations but with different causes, not necessarily Parkinson's disease itself. Parkinson's syndrome may be caused by Parkinson’s disease, medications, stroke, and other factors.

Diagnostic Basis

1. Resting tremor

Often presents as a "pill-rolling" tremor of one hand, most noticeable at rest, worsening with stress or fatigue, and easing during sleep or activity. It is one of the earliest typical symptoms.

2. Muscle rigidity

Increased muscle tone is manifested as "lead-pipe" or "cogwheel" resistance during passive movement, often accompanied by joint pain. Rigidity can occur in limbs, neck, or trunk, affecting movement fluency.

3. Bradykinesia (motor impairment)

Movements become slow and reduced in amplitude, presenting as difficulty initiating steps, micrographia, or slowed speech. As the disease progresses, facial expressions become dull, and daily activities significantly slow down.

4. Balance dysfunction

Patients show unsteady standing, shuffling gait, "festination," difficulty turning, or even falling. Loss of postural reflexes is a common severe functional impairment in later stages.

5. Levodopa response test

If symptoms improve significantly after levodopa administration, it suggests dopamine-deficiency Parkinson’s syndrome. This is currently a highly valuable clinical diagnostic tool.

6. Neuroimaging tests

DAT-PET and brain SPECT scans may reveal marked reduction of nigrostriatal dopamine transporters. MRI is mainly used to exclude other brain pathologies such as infarction or atrophy, aiding diagnosis.

7. Differential diagnosis

It is necessary to exclude secondary Parkinson’s syndrome (such as drug-induced, vascular, or toxin-related) and other degenerative diseases like multiple system atrophy or progressive supranuclear palsy, to avoid misdiagnosis.

Conclusion

Experts at United Life International Medical Center remind us: diagnosis of Parkinson's syndrome should not rely on a single symptom. Multi-angle analysis and standardized procedures are essential. Early recognition and timely intervention can maximize the delay of disease progression and protect patients’ neurological function and quality of life.