Parkinsonism is the generic name given to a group of conditions that feature the main characteristics of Parkinson’s: tremor, rigidity of muscles, mobility problems and bradykinesia (slowness of movement).
About 85% of people with parkinsonism have the most common form, Parkinson’s disease (also known as PD or idiopathic Parkinson’s disease). If you have this type, then this website is for you: it aims to provide all the information you need to manage life with Parkinson’s.
The other 15% of people with parkinsonism have different, much rarer conditions. These are outside the remit of this website, but brief descriptions of each one are provided below, together with links to any sources of further information.
Corticobasal degeneration (CD)
CD is a rare type of Parkinsonism that can affect mental processes,
personality and behaviour, as well as causing Parkinsonism symptoms. It
tends to be asymmetrical and causes an ‘alien limb’ phenomenon, where
the person’s arms or legs can seem to move without control, as if with
a mind of its own. CD has some similarities with Progressive
Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).
More information and support is available from the Pick’s Disease
Support Group – www.pdsg.org.uk, or the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
(PSP-Europe) Association – www.pspeur.org
Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)
DLB shares features with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Because of its
similarities with the symptoms of dementia (such as memory loss and
variations in alertness and attention) it is often confused with
Alzheimer’s. But about 75% of people with DLB also develop Parkinsonism
symptoms, in particular being susceptible to falls.
Further information and support is available from the Alzheimer’s
Society – www.alzheimers.org.uk, the Pick’s Disease Support Group –
www.pdsg.org.uk, and Alzheimer Europe - www.alzheimer-europe.org
Drug-induced Parkinsonism
Some people develop Parkinsonism after they have taken certain
medications and people with Parkinson’s may also find their symptoms
worsen when they are treated with these medications. This is known as
drug-induced Parkinsonism.
The medications involved are generally those that block the action
of dopamine, the neurotransmitter that is depleted in the brains of
people with Parkinson's. These include antipsychotic/neuroleptic
medication used to treat schizophrenia and other psychiatric problems,
prochlorperazine (Stemetil) used to treat dizziness and nausea, and
Metoclopromide (Maxolon) used to treat nausea and indigestion.
Essential tremor (ET)
ET is a common neurological condition, often misdiagnosed as
Parkinson’s. Its cause is unknown, but can run in families, resulting
in fast, rhythmic trembling in the hands, head, legs, trunk or voice.
Whilst the tremors experienced by people with Parkinson’s are apparent
during rest periods, ET is an ‘action’ tremor - it is more pronounced
when the affected part of the body is being used, for example in the
hands when writing.
More information and support is available from the National Tremor Foundation – www.tremor.org.uk
Multiple system atrophy (MSA)
MSA is a progressive neurological disorder that causes problems with
movement, balance and the automatic functions of the body, such as
bladder control, sweating and blood pressure.
More information and support is available from the Sarah Matheson Trust for Multiple System Atrophy – www.msaweb.co.uk
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)
PSP is also a progressive neurological disorder. It predominantly
affects balance, but also impairs mobility, vision, speech and the
ability to swallow. A particular feature that many people with PSP
experience is difficulty in moving the eyes when trying to look up or
down.
More information and support is available from the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP-Europe) Association – www.pspeur.org
Vascular (arteriosclerotic) Parkinsonism
A form of ‘atypical Parkinsonism’ in which Parkinson-type symptoms
are produced by one or more small strokes, rather than by a gradual
loss of nerve cells.
Several small strokes in the corpus striatum in the brain (the part
that receives information about position and movement) can cause
Parkinsonism symptoms, such as rigidity and slowness, walking with
short, shuffling steps and speech problems. This is known as vascular
(arteriosclerotic) Parkinsonism and can be difficult to distinguish
from Parkinson’s. However, stroke symptoms tend to appear suddenly and
do not progress, whereas those of Parkinson’s are gradual in appearance
and worsen over time.
More information and support on stroke is available from the Stroke Association – www.stroke.org.uk, or the Stroke Alliance for Europe – www.safestroke.org.
