Key takeaways

  • Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that involves reduced dopamine levels.
  • Parkinsonism is a broad term describing conditions that involve movement symptoms such as slowness of movement, rigidity, and tremor. Sometimes, Parkinson’s disease is defined as a type of parkinsonism.
  • While Parkinson’s disease typically develops gradually due to genetic and environmental factors, other types of parkinsonism can have sudden onset and may be caused by strokes, brain injuries, infections, or certain medications.

Parkinson’s disease and parkinsonism are both characterized by tremors, stiffness, and movement problems.

However, there are subtle differences that doctors can use to tell whether the symptoms are due to Parkinson’s disease or parkinsonism.

In this article, we discuss the difference between Parkinson’s disease and parkinsonism, diagnosis, and management.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder where damage to neurons leads to a decrease in neurotransmitters like dopamine. Symptoms may include movement problems, tremors, depression, and communication issues.

Parkinsonism is an umbrella term for a group of conditions that cause tremors, slow movement, and stiffness.

Other conditions and events that may produce symptoms of parkinsonism include:

  • certain medications
  • brain tumors
  • certain brain infections
  • stroke/vascular parkinsonism
  • head trauma
  • metabolic conditions
  • toxins
  • atypical parkinsonisms

Atypical parkinsonisms, which used to be defined as Parkinson’s plus, are neurodegenerative conditions that cause movement symptoms similar to those of Parkinson’s disease along with additional symptoms that are not necessarily part of Parkinson’s disease.

Common atypical parkinsonisms include multi-system atrophy (MSA), Lewy body dementia, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and corticobasal degeneration.

Early on, it can be difficult to tell whether your symptoms are due to Parkinson’s disease or another form of parkinsonism. Both Parkinson’s disease and parkinsonism can cause:

However, there are some signs and symptoms that can help differentiate between the two. Parkinson’s disease may also cause:

  • a shuffling gait
  • expressionless face
  • dry skin
  • constipation

Depending on the cause, parkinsonism may also lead to:

  • involuntary movements (especially when medication is the cause)
  • weakness after a stroke or head trauma
  • reflex changes
  • sensory changes on one side of the body, such when caused by stroke, head trauma, or a brain tumor
  • coordination problems
  • dementia

Atypical parkinsonisms may develop slowly over time and cause other symptoms before the onset of movement symptoms.

Parkinson’s disease takes years to develop, usually beginning with subtle or mild symptoms. It’s believed that genetics and environmental factors may contribute to the risk, but the specific genes and environmental factors have not been definitively identified.

Some forms of parkinsonism can develop suddenly. Parkinsonism may be linked to stroke, brain injury, medication use, and, less commonly, an infection.

Parkinson’s disease usually begins on one side of the body and progresses to involve both sides. Parkinsonism either affects both sides equally from the beginning, or it only involves one side — depending on the cause.

Typically, parkinsonism does not respond as well to the medications used to manage Parkinson’s disease. There is no single test that identifies Parkinson’s disease. Diagnosis involves a physical exam, medical history, neurological exam, and other tests.

Infections as a trigger for Parkinsonism

Infections are a possible source of parkinsonism. The following viruses most often linked to the condition:

The condition can also develop from inflammation and other problems that may occur after an infection or illness.

Parkinsonism can develop spontaneously, but certain medications can increase the risk of developing these symptoms. In fact, medications are the second leading cause of parkinsonism.

Some of the most common medications believed to cause parkinsonism, also known as drug-induced parkinsonism, include:

While these medications carry the risk of triggering parkinsonism symptoms, they’re usually only prescribed for very specific — and often serious — conditions. Do not stop taking any of these medications or change your dosage without talking with your healthcare team first.

In some cases, parkinsonism may be reversed, depending on what caused your symptoms in the first place.

Symptoms triggered by viral or bacterial infections may be more lasting, and drug-induced parkinsonism may sometimes resolve if the drug that’s causing the symptoms is stopped.

The medication levodopa is the first-line treatment for Parkinson’s disease. One indicator that you are experiencing parkinsonism (instead of Parkinson’s disease) is the lack of a response to this medication.

Levodopa and other medications that are prescribed for Parkinson’s disease may have a minimal effect on symptoms of parkinsonism.

It’s important to reach out to your neurologist if you’re receiving treatment for Parkinson’s disease or parkinsonism and your symptoms have not improved or are getting worse. Physical therapy can be an important aspect of treatment for both Parkinson’s disease and parkinsonism.

When to seek help

For people with Parkinson’s disease, the evolution of symptoms is usually gradual. Drug-induced and other forms of parkinsonism may come on suddenly, prompting you to seek emergency medical care.

Be sure to review your personal and family medical history with your doctor. Sometimes, certain medical conditions or family history can increase your risk of developing neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease or parkinsonism.

If you or a loved one experiences these symptoms, you can also find information and resources at a number of local and national organizations, such as:

Your healthcare team can also help you find resources and support in your local area.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disease that shares symptoms with other neurological diseases. Parkinsonism refers to conditions that cause symptoms of slowness, rigidity, and tremor.

It’s important that you consult your healthcare team if you develop tremors or stiffness.

It can take some time to get an accurate diagnosis, but your healthcare team will be able to guide and support you through the process.