Healthcare professionals diagnose Parkinson’s disease based on a person’s medical history and symptoms.
In the early stages of the disease, a Parkinson’s diagnosis can be hard because symptoms are mild and similar to those of other diseases.
Parkinson’s disease is diagnosed when a person has bradykinesia (slow movement), and resting tremor, rigidity, or both.
Medical Examination
During the medical exam, the healthcare professional will check for:
- Tremor
- Bradykinesia
- Rigidity
- Reflexes
- Balance while walking and standing
- Ability to perform certain tasks with the hands
Your provider will also ask about:
- Other medical conditions
- Medications
- History of falls
- Difficulty walking
People need to tell their provider about changes in mood, thinking, sleep, or bowel and bladder function.
Sometimes, healthcare providers will do a “medication challenge” to help make the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. If the motor symptoms improve a lot with medication, this likely means Parkinson’s. If not, a different diagnosis is more likely.
Last Updated March 2023