Parkinson's disease FAQs

Is Parkinson’s disease hereditary?

There are some people with hereditary Parkinson’s disease or parkinonism, but in the majority of cases it is not hereditary. If a patient has a very strong family history of Parkinson’s disease they can be tested for genetic forms.

What causes Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease is caused by the build up of a tangled protein called alpha synuclein which damages a part of the brain that releases dopamine. This is why we use L-DOPA and dopamine agonists to treat it. What causes the tangled alpha synuclein is not known.

Some medication causes tremor and symptoms which are similar to Parkinson’s. In some cases, if the medication can be stopped, some of the symptoms improve.

Will it get worse?

In general, Parkinson’s disease does get worse with time. However, the progression can be quite slow and the symptoms can often be reduced by increasing or changing medication.

Is there any treatment apart from medication?

Physiotherapy can often be helpful in reducing the risk of falls. A small number of patients with Parkinson’s disease who respond to L-DOPA are treated with an operation called ‘deep brain stimulation’.

Can a patient with Parkinson’s disease still drive?

The majority of people with Parkinson’s disease can still drive, but they need to tell the DVLA of their diagnosis.