Parkinson’s Disease Treatment in New Jersey
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive brain and spinal cord disorder that occurs when the brain’s nerve cells don't create enough dopamine. The specific cause is still unknown, although genetic and environmental factors may contribute.
Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson’s disease tends to occur in older adults and is somewhat more common in men. Symptoms tend to appear around age 60, although a small percentage of cases (five to 10 percent) are diagnosed in people younger than age 50.
Early symptoms tend to begin gradually and on one side of the body and typically get worse over time. Other symptoms include:
- Difficulty balancing;
- Muscle stiffness;
- Slow movement, known as bradykinesia;
- Small, cramped handwriting;
- Speech changes, such as slurring or speaking in a monotone;
- Stooped posture;
- Tremors in the fingers, hand, arm, jaw or face.
As Parkinson’s disease progresses, you may have difficulty talking, walking, sleeping, swallowing, speaking and performing simple tasks. You may also experience mental and behavioral changes, such as depression, fatigue and problems with memory.
Parkinson's Disease Care Locations
We offer Parkinson's disease and other movement disorder programs throughout New Jersey at the following locations:
- Hackensack University Medical Center in Paramus, NJ
- JFK University Medical Center in Edison, NJ
- Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ
- JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Center serving central New Jersey communities
Diagnosing Parkinson's Disease
Although there is no specific test to diagnose Parkinson’s disease, our New Jersey-based Parkinson’s specialists will review your symptoms and medical history, perform a physical exam, and may conduct additional tests, such as:
- Blood or urine samples to check for markers of neurological disorders and rule out other conditions.
- Skin punch biopsies are used in conjunction with other diagnostic tools to identify protein markers associated with Parkinson's and other related disorders.
- Dopamine transport uptake assessment (DaT): A Parkinson’s neurologist measures the level of dopamine in a specific part of the brain using state-of-the-art imaging.
- Electromyography (EMG): Measures the electrical impulses of your muscles and nerves and how they work together.
- Imaging tests: A Parkinson’s disease specialist uses computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look for neurological abnormalities in patients across New Jersey.
- Neurophysiological exam: A Parkinson’s doctor uses visual, electrical and other types of stimulation to detect neurological abnormalities.
- Neuropsychological exam: Assesses your memory, attention, language and other cognitive skills.
Treatments for Parkinson's Disease
While there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, our New Jersey-based neurological specialists and neurosurgeons continue to pioneer new advances to provide you with access to the latest surgical and nonsurgical treatments and therapies for Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, essential tremors and other movement disorders throughout New Jersey.
- Chemodenervation uses Botox injections to block nerve signals to your muscles, reducing the degree of abnormal movement.
- Dietary therapy. Our neurological specialists collaborate with registered dietitians in New Jersey to design a dietary plan to provide optimal nutrition while maximizing the effectiveness of your medications and managing other symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing.
- Medication, such as dopamine substitutes, anti-seizure, and blood pressure medications can also relieve symptoms of movement disorders.
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS) may be recommended for patients with symptoms that are not well controlled by medication. It works by implanting a small device in your brain that uses electrical stimulation to prevent nerve signals from causing abnormal movement.
- Focused Ultrasound (FUS), a minimally invasive alternative to deep-brain stimulation for patients with essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease tremor that has not responded to medications. Hackensack Meridian Health is the only health network in New Jersey to use this technique, also known as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), to treat brain tissue that is the source of the tremor. Treatment is now available at at leading HMH facilities across northern and central New Jersey.
- Stereotactic pallidotomy may be an option for patients who can’t undergo deep-brain stimulation for Parkinson’s or other movement disorders. It uses radiofrequency ablation to create a small lesion in the part of the brain responsible for movement control.
- Stereotactic thalamotomy to treat essential tremor or tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease. This procedure creates lesions that stop or reduce tremors using Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery technology.
- MRI-guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) uses a minimally invasive robotically controlled laser thermal therapy to ablate unwanted tissue in the brain where a tremor originates, without harming surrounding healthy brain tissue.
Support Services for Parkinson’s Disease
We offer a full range of supportive services, including:
- Cognitive remediation aimed at helping you manage challenges related to cognitive functions such as memory, planning and reasoning.
- Driving rehabilitation to help you maintain your driving independence.
- Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services designed to help you adjust to living with Parkinson’s disease.
- Neuropsychology and Psychological counseling to support your emotional challenges and help you cope with cognitive changes.
- Physical therapy and Parkinson’s group exercise classes that focus on improving your balance, strength and flexibility.
- Parkinson’s Wellness Program is a unique two-week inpatient rehabilitation program at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison, New Jersey, that focuses on restoring and maintaining function.
- Speech therapy using the latest evidence-based treatment protocols to help preserve your voice.
- Support groups and services designed to help patients live well with Parkinson’s disease, including Ping Pong Parkinson's, Rock Steady Boxing, ParkinSINGS choir, SPEAK OUT speech therapy and voice training program and more available at several New Jersey locations.
Find Care and Resources for Parkinson's Disease
Search our network of Parkinson's Disease specialists, read patient success stories or find support groups at various New Jersey locations for people living with Parkinson's.
Frequently Asked Questions About Parkinson's Disease
Early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease often start gradually and usually affect one side of the body first. Common early signs include:
- Tremors in the fingers, hand, arm, jaw or face
- Muscle stiffness
- Slow movement (bradykinesia)
- Small, cramped handwriting
- Speech changes such as slurring or speaking in a monotone
- Stooped posture
- Difficulty balancing
Symptoms may worsen over time and can later include issues with walking, talking, sleeping and swallowing.
Tremor is a symptom of both Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor, a movement disorder that often causes hand tremors. Essential tremor is about eight times more common than Parkinson’s disease.
While they may appear similar, essential tremor and Parkinson’s differ in several important ways:
- Parkinson’s tremors generally start around age 60 and initially affect one side of the body. Essential tremor often appears in adolescence or middle age (between ages 40 to 50) and tends to initially affect both sides of the body.
- Parkinson’s disease tremor usually occurs at rest. Essential tremor typically occurs during movement.
- Essential tremor appears to be more closely related to genetic causes than Parkinson’s disease.
- Over time, Parkinson’s disease affects the legs, jaw and other body parts, causing stiff muscles, slow movement, trouble balancing and stooped posture. Essential tremor typically involves the upper half of the body only; the hands, head and voice.
- Parkinson's tremor is often characterized by a “pill-rolling” — a circular movement of the tips of the index finger and thumb.
There isn’t one specific test for Parkinson’s disease. A New Jersey-based Parkinson’s specialist will review your symptoms, medical history and perform a physical exam. Additional tests may include:
- Blood or urine samples to rule out other conditions
- Skin punch biopsy to identify protein markers
- Dopamine transport uptake (DaT) scan
- Electromyography (EMG)
- Imaging tests such as CT or MRI
- Neurophysiological and neuropsychological exams
You can find Parkinson’s disease and movement disorder programs at several hospitals and rehabilitation centers, including:
- Hackensack University Medical Center
- JFK University Medical Center
- Jersey Shore University Medical Center
- JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Center
Each of these New Jersey locations offers access to specialists and advanced treatment options for movement disorders.
