What to Know About Parkinson’s

Healthy Living

By Dr. Hooman Azmi On Aug 8, 2025

Parkinson’s disease [PD] is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that slowly reduces dopamine-producing neurons, leading to symptoms including uncontrollable tremors, muscle stiffness, slowed movement, and impaired balance. Today, roughly one million people across the US are living with Parkinson’s. 

Parkinson’s is usually a slowly progressive condition and can be challenging to detect. It is important to seek trained specialists for the proper diagnosis and treatment. Movement disorders specialists are neurologists who pursue extra training of at least 1 to 2 years in conditions that affect movement, and they can properly identify Parkinson’s disease and initiate treatment. Several early signs may indicate it’s appropriate to schedule a consultation with your doctor. See infographic below. 

• Tremor at rest 
• Small handwriting 
• Stiffness & difficulty walking 
• Reduced facial expressions 

While there is currently no known cure for Parkinson’s disease, there are treatments that can help. Medications are the mainstay of treatment; a medical team will help tailor a medication regimen for each patient for the most effective symptomatic relief and the best quality of life. 

Exercise, especially aerobic conditioning and resistance training, has been shown to slow disease progression, as have diets rich in antioxidants, omega-3s, and anti-inflammatory nutrients. Other research has shown that mind-stimulating activities, such as social events, reading, completing puzzles, and playing games, can help delay the disease’s progression. 

When medications and other therapies are unable to adequately control symptoms, or when medication side effects are problematic, surgery may be recommended. For instance, patients may be recommended treatments, such as: 

• Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) 
• High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) 
• Other treatments rarely performed today include: thalamotomy, pallidotomy, and subthalamotomy 

If you or a loved one are exhibiting hallmark symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, it is important to get the support you need. First, consult a movement disorders specialist who can conduct a series of neurological exams, diagnostic tests, and assess symptoms to help diagnose, or rule out, the disease. Today, diagnostic measures, such as highly reliable skin biopsy tests, can help indicate the presence of PD. 

For individuals with a family history of Parkinson’s disease, with young-onset Parkinson’s symptoms (under 50 years old), or those belonging to high-risk communities, genetic testing should be considered. 

On the horizon are cell and gene therapy approaches, which aim to address the disease’s underlying causes. These therapies look to replace dopamine-producing neurons, and offer promise to further impact disease progression and improve overall quality of life.

About the Author: Dr. Hooman Azmi is a neurosurgeon at New Jersey Brain and Spine. His primary areas of interest include the surgical treatment of Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. He advocates for new technologies that improve patient care, and he played a key role in introducing MRI-guided focused ultrasound to Parkinson’s patients at Hackensack University Medical Center. 

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