That's a great question, and it sounds like you're getting thorough care at Duke. Atypical Parkinsonism (sometimes called "Parkinson's plus") refers to a group of conditions that share similar movement symptoms with Parkinson's disease but have some key differences.
Here's what sets atypical Parkinsonism apart:
- Movement Show Full Answer
That's a great question, and it sounds like you're getting thorough care at Duke. Atypical Parkinsonism (sometimes called "Parkinson's plus") refers to a group of conditions that share similar movement symptoms with Parkinson's disease but have some key differences.
Here's what sets atypical Parkinsonism apart:
- Movement symptoms may start on both sides of the body rather than one side
- Problems with thinking, memory, and mood can appear before movement symptoms
- It tends to progress faster than typical Parkinson's disease
- Balance issues often appear earlier
- It generally responds less well to standard Parkinson's medications like levodopa There are several types of atypical Parkinsonism, including:
- Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)
- Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)
- Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD)
- Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB)
Each type has slightly different symptoms that help doctors tell them apart.
Regarding your tests — a positive DaTscan confirms there is abnormal dopamine activity in the brain, which is consistent with a parkinsonism diagnosis. The negative skin biopsy helps your doctors narrow down which specific type you may have. It's worth having a detailed conversation with your neurologist at Duke about which type they suspect and what that means for your treatment plan.
June 16
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