Parkinson's Disease: Predictably Unpredictable

• • Examine etiology, pathophysiology, and diagnostic criteria for Parkinson's disease
• • Recognize motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease
• • Discover evaluation tools that successfully affect treatment plans
• • Gain therapeutic strategies for gait, balance, and posture to enhance functional movement with patients
• • Examine vision and oculomotor changes within PD patients
• • Differentiate between Parkinson's disease and Parkinson plus syndromes

Current Treatment Strategies for Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a very complex and unpredictable neurological disorder. It is the second most common neurodegenerative disease — second only to Alzheimer's disease. Approximately 2 million people in the United States (6 million people worldwide) suffer from this debilitating disease. While PD itself is not fatal, the Center for Disease Control rated complications from the disease as the 14th top cause of death in the United States.

The cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, and currently there is no cure for it. Individual presentation and symptoms vary from person to person. Treatment of PD is directed at treating the symptoms that are most bothersome to an individual with Parkinson's disease through a combination of medications, surgery, and therapy. This interactive seminar is designed to educate clinicians working with PD clients about current treatment strategies. This includes examining what medications are commonly used and potential side effects, evidence-based tests, and measurements applicable to setting function-related goals and therapeutic strategies to improve function among PD patients.