Parkinson's Disease Services

Parkinson’s disease is a disorder that results in slowness of movement, stiffness and sometimes tremors. With disease progression, often over decades, cognitive symptoms also become apparent.

It is the second most common U.S. neurodegenerative disorder, affecting an estimated 1 million people. About 100,000 Californians and some 10,000 people in Orange County suffer from Parkinson’s.

The UCI Health Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders Program is led by fellowship-trained neurologists who specialize in state-of-the-art clinical care for Parkinson’s and other movement disorders, delivered in a caring, supportive environment.

We offer comprehensive treatment and care, from early disease management with lifestyle modifications and medications, to more complex management and treatments, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS), as well as diagnosis and counseling for genetic variations of the condition.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call us at 714-456-7720.

Symptoms

Parkinson's disease doesn't usually run in families, but up to 10% of cases may be familial. The disease is most commonly diagnosed in adults over age 50, but cases have occurred in people in their early 20s.

The hallmark symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are muscle stiffness and difficulty with fine motor skills, often described by patients as a sensation of “weakness.” Some patients also may experience tremor, noticed mostly when they are resting.

Other symptoms may include:

• Slowness of movement in hands and feet
• Slowness in performing typical daily activities
• Balance problems or frequent falls
• Change in posture

Treatment options

Multiple treatment options are available for Parkinson’s disease that can be tailored to each patient’s symptoms and disease state. They include:

• Medical management
• Surgical interventions
• Rehabilitation therapies (physical, pelvic floor, speech, occupational) to address movement- and non-movement-related difficulties

Cognitive stimulation and social interaction are also important aspects of treatment.

While no current treatments exist to halt disease progression, important efforts are underway, including drug, gene and stem cell therapies. Learn more about UCI Health clinical trials for Parkinson’s disease ›

Why choose us

At Orange County’s only academic health system, we offers patients access to early research developments and clinical trials to treat symptoms and target disease progression.

UCI Health is also part of the Parkinson’s Study Group, a national consortium of academic medical centers that have committed decades of work to provide better diagnosis, treatment and management of this condition.

Learn more about our program, educational resources and what you can expect as a patient by viewing our annual symposia presentations and videos ›