Key Features

100 Questions & Answers About Parkinson Disease
Abraham Lieberman, MD, Marcia McCall

  ▪ Concise, easy-to-read paperback book.
  ▪ The question and answer format mimics an actual physician consultation.
  ▪ Provides both the patient’s and physician’s perspective on parkinson disease.
  ▪ Written by an expert authors team with extensive experience.
  ▪ Provides practical answers to questions about treatment options, quality of life, care giving, sources of
    support, and much more.

Table of Contents

Part 1. Some Basic Questions
Questions 1–10 address basic questions about Parkinson Disease (PD), including:
  ▪ What is Parkinson Disease?
  ▪ What causes PD?
  ▪ Will I die from PD?

Part 2. Tell Me More
Questions 11-21 explore details of PD, such as:
  ▪ What are the main symptoms of PD?
  ▪ I have an appointment with a neurologist. What should I expect?
  ▪ Do these symptoms always mean PD? Could it be something else?
  ▪ Why is it called a “movement disorder?”
  ▪ I heard PD is a “progressive disease." What does that mean?

Part 3. Treatment
Questions 22-32 describe the means of treating PD, including:
  ▪ What is the goal of treatment?
  ▪ What drugs are used to treat PD?
  ▪ Why start with a dopamine agonist?
  ▪ Do agonists slow the progression of PD?

Part 4. Social and Psychological Aspects of PD
Questions 33-41 discuss the changes that PD can cause:
  ▪ What do I tell my grandchildren?
  ▪ Do I tell my boss?
  ▪ Will I be able to drive?
  ▪ What will become of my social life?
  ▪ What about sex?

Part 5. Progression
Questions 42-66 describe changes that may occur, including:
  ▪ What stage am I in?
  ▪ How do I know if my disease is progressing?
  ▪ Why do I fall?
  ▪ I can’t sleep. Is this PD?
  ▪ Is depression part of PD?
  ▪ Will I lose my mind?

Part 6. Surgery for PD
Questions 67-72 discuss surgery:
  ▪ What is a thalamotomy?
  ▪ What is pallidotomy?
  ▪ What is deep brain stimulation (DBS)?
  ▪ What are stem cells?

Part 7: Alternative Approaches to PD
Questions 73-83 outline alternative approaches to PD:
  ▪ Should I exercise?
  ▪ What should I eat?
  ▪ Why am I losing weight?
  ▪ Do I need vitamins?

Part 8: Making the Most of Life with PD
Questions 84-96 discuss how you can make the most of life:
  ▪ Why me? What did I do to deserve PD?
  ▪ Can I make my home safe?
  ▪ Will I be able to walk?
  ▪ Should I take a drug holiday?
  ▪ How can I become less anxious?

Part 9: Hope
Questions 97-100 describe advances in PD:
  ▪ How long before a cure?
  ▪ What are my chances of developing PD?
  ▪ Where can I get more information about PD?
  ▪ Should I take a drug holiday?

Appendix
A list of Web sites, organizations, and literature to help Parkinson disease patients and their families find additional resources on general and specific topics related to Parkinson disease.

Glossary
Index