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Currently, there are no treatments available to cure Parkinson’s disease or to completely halt its progression.
If you have an early, mild case of Parkinson’s disease, your doctor may recommend that you start your treatment program with only lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise. As the disease progresses, however, you’ll probably be advised to begin taking medications to manage your symptoms. Other treatments may be recommended if your symptoms begin to interfere with your daily functioning.
Current goals of treatment include relieving symptoms that interfere with daily functioning and improving quality of life.
Treatment involves the following:
Lifestyle changes
Medications
Surgery
Other treatments
Alternative and complementary therapies
References:
American Association of Neurological Surgeons website. Available at: http://www.aans.org/ .
Conn HF, Rakel RE. Conn’s Current Therapy 2002. 54th ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2002.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/ .
Parkinson’s Disease Foundation website. Available at: http://www.pdf.org/ .
Last reviewed February 2009 by Rimas Lukas, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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