THE MOTOR SYMPTOMS–CHALLENGE IN DIAGNOSIS OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after the dementia of Alzheimer. The clinical presentation of PD is dominated by typical motor symptoms as resting tremor, cogwheel rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability. Non-motor symptoms (NMS) of Parkinson's disease are common but are often under-recognized in clinical practice either due to the lack of spontaneous complaints by the patients or to the absence of systematic questioning by healthcare professionals. In contrast to motor dysfunctions, non-motor symptoms frequently remain unreported. Recently, a self-completed NMS questionnaire and NMS scale for identification and evaluation of these symptoms have been validated. An international survey has shown that up to 62% of NMS in PD remain undeclared to healthcare professionals because patients are unaware that NMS symptoms are linked to PD. Based on both clinical and neuropathological data, PD, traditionally accepted as a dopaminergic motor disorder, now can be characterized as a multisystem neurodegenerative disease that involves many neurotransmitter systems and affects not only motor but non-motor functions, too.