New Diagnosis Workshop: Parkinson's Diagnosis (2021)

In this webinar, Dr. Jonathan Squires, a movement disorder neurologist, provided a comprehensive overview of the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease. Highlighting the neurodegenerative nature of the disease, he emphasized the key clinical symptoms and the lack of a definitive test for diagnosis. He outlined common motor and non-motor symptoms, underlining the role of levodopa as the primary treatment, with supplemental therapies focusing on talk therapy, medications, and lifestyle adjustments.

The discussion also scrutinized the use of various supplements and their inconsistent regulation, while dispelling misconceptions regarding the relationship between Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis, the use of lithium as a treatment, and the impact of delayed medication intake.

Dr. Squires underscored the crucial role of exercise in potentially slowing down the disease's progression and addressed emerging research initiatives in Parkinson's treatment. Furthermore, he provided guidelines for moderate alcohol consumption and discussed the potential benefits of diets like the MIND diet and the use of CBD in managing Parkinson's symptoms. Exploring advanced treatments such as deep brain stimulation, Dr. Squires emphasized its limited accessibility. Lastly, he mentioned the prolonged timeline for wheelchair usage in the disease's advanced stages.

View the video slides accompanying this presentation by clicking here.

**Disclaimer: These sessions are designed to provide general education and are not intended for individual advice and/or clinical care. The information conveyed in this recording was accurate at the time of presentation.**