PARKINSON-PLUS SYNDROME

Course overview

PARKINSON-PLUS SYNDROMES ARE CHARACTERIZED BY THE PRIMARY FEATURES OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE, INCLUDING BRADYKINESIA, ATAXIA, RESTING TREMOR, AND RIGIDITY BUT ALSO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL FEATURES SUCH AS DEMENTIA, COGNITIVE DEFICITS, AND CRANIAL NERVE IMPAIRMENT. THESE CHRONIC, DEBILITATING NEURODEGENERATIVE CONDITIONS RESULT IN SEVERE IMPAIRMENT AND ARE TYPICALLY IDIOPATHIC. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS CAN LEAD TO IMPROVED SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT, BUT DEFINITIVE DIAGNOSIS REQUIRES IDENTIFICATION OF ALPHA-SYNUCLEIN OR TAU INCLUSIONS IN THE BRAIN POST-MORTEM. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF PARKINSON-PLUS SYNDROMES AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING PATIENTS WITH THESE CONDITIONS.