Diagnosis and Prognosis of Parkinson's Disease?
How is Parkinson's Disease Diagnosed?
There are currently no blood or laboratory tests that have been proven to help in diagnosing sporadic PD. Therefore the diagnosis is based on medical history and a neurological examination. The disease can be difficult to diagnose accurately. Early signs and symptoms of PD may sometimes be dismissed as the effects of normal aging. The physician may need to observe the person for some time until it is apparent that the symptoms are consistently present. Doctors may sometimes request brain scans or laboratory tests in order to rule out other diseases. However, CT and MRI brain scans of people with PD usually appear normal. Since many other diseases have similar features but require different treatments, making a precise diagnosis as soon as possible is essential so that patients can receive the proper treatment.
 What is the Prognosis?
PD is not by itself a fatal disease, but it does get worse with time. The average life expectancy of a PD patient is generally the same as for people who do not have the disease. However, in the late stages of the disease, PD may cause complications such as choking, pneumonia, and falls that can lead to death. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available for people with PD. The progression of symptoms in PD may take 20 years or more. In some people, however, the disease progresses more quickly. There is no way to predict what course the disease will take for an individual person. One commonly used system for describing how the symptoms of PD progress is called the Hoehn and Yahr scale.
Hoehn and Yahr Staging of Parkinson's Disease Stage one Symptoms on one side of the body only. Stage two Symptoms on both sides of the body. No impairment of balance. Stage three Balance impairment. Mild to moderate disease. Physically independent. Stage four Severe disability, but still able to walk or stand unassisted. Stage five Wheelchair-bound or bedridden unless assisted. | 
