Yes, people are diagnosed with atypical parkinsonism, also known as "Parkinson's plus." These are movement disorders that have motor symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease and are caused by progressive brain damage, but they don't improve with typical Parkinson's medications.
Atypical parkinsonism includes several Show Full Answer
Yes, people are diagnosed with atypical parkinsonism, also known as "Parkinson's plus." These are movement disorders that have motor symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease and are caused by progressive brain damage, but they don't improve with typical Parkinson's medications.
Atypical parkinsonism includes several conditions:
- Multiple System Atrophy (MSA): A rare condition affecting about 1,900 new cases per year in the U.S., with symptoms related to the autonomic nervous system like bladder problems, excessive sweating, and dizziness when standing
- Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP): Characterized by difficulty focusing eyes, balance problems leading to backward falls, and posture changes
- Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB): The second most common cause of dementia in older people, where dementia symptoms appear first, often with visual hallucinations
- Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD): The least common type, usually affecting people over 60, with symptoms typically appearing on one side of the body
These conditions generally progress more quickly than Parkinson's disease and show little to no response to levodopa, a common Parkinson's medication. Balance issues also tend to appear earlier than in typical Parkinson's.
On MyParkinsonsTeam, members share experiences with various types of parkinsonism and support each other through their journeys.
December 19, 2025
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