Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive movement disorder caused by the death of cells in areas of the brain that control movement and coordination. The core symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include tremor, slowness in initiating and executing movements, muscle stiffness, and poor balance/unsteadiness. Some individuals with Parkinson’s disease also experience other neurobehavioral changes, including depression and cognitive alterations. A neuropsychologist can play an important role in evaluating these mood and/or cognitive changes over time to help guide possible directions for optimal treatment and management of Parkinson’s disease.