Parkinson’s Disease " Updates in Diagnosis and Patient Management

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder, second only in prevalence to Alzheimer’s disease. Numerous therapeutic options, including carbidopa/levodopa, monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors, dopamine agonists, and device-assisted therapies, are available for treatment. These treatments are indicated at different stages following diagnosis. However, Parkinson’s disease progresses at highly variable rates, and no biomarkers, laboratory tests, or gold standard indexes are available to determine which stage a patient is experiencing. Therefore, accurately monitoring disease progression and selecting therapies appropriate to each stage of Parkinson’s disease presents a significant and clinically important challenge. Many practitioners are likely unaware of therapeutic agents under development that may improve care for patients with Parkinson’s disease. Due to the complexity of the disease, the many current and emerging choices for treatment, as well as the varied experience of each patient, Parkinson’s disease requires that clinicians provide a patient-centered approach that factors each patient’s unique experiences, perceptions, and priorities into the treatment decisions. In this educational activity, expert faculty will evaluate the criteria and tools for the timely identification of advancing motor and nonmotor symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease, assess current and emerging therapies for each stage of disease progression, and explore the rationale for patient-centered care in this setting.