7 things a neurosurgeon wants you to know about Parkinson's treatment

If you’re one of the approximately 60,000 people in America diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) annually, it can seem overwhelming at first. Parkinson’s is a neurological condition that is both chronic and progressive, and learning to live with the symptoms is a challenge. But the symptoms of PD are manageable, and there are many different options patients can discuss with their doctors.

Timing is key when considering what treatment to pursue. “The important factors are what stage of the disease the patient is presenting—if it’s early in the disease or later in the disease or in intermediate terms,” says Hazem Abdalla Eltahawy, MD, who specializes in neurological surgery at St. Mary Mercy Livonia hospital in Michigan. Here, he discusses the different types of treatments for Parkinson’s, including medication, surgery and dietary changes, as well as ways in which patients can seek support.