Clinical Evaluation and Differential Diagnosis of Parkinsonism

Abstract

Parkinsonism or akinetic rigid syndromes are characterised by small, slow movements (bradykinesia), rigidity and tremor. Parkinson’s disease is the commonest cause, accounting for at least 80% of akinetic rigid syndromes (1). Increasingly, attention has turned to delineating the clinical characteristics of Parkinson’s disease and the conditions that commonly mimic Parkinson’s disease. These conditions include progressive supranuclear palsy (Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome), Multiple system atrophy and cerebrovascular disease. In the full expression of these conditions, the diagnosis is usually obvious, but in the early stages precise diagnosis may be difficult.