Other Movement Conditions:
- Multiple system atrophy (MSA)
- Dementia with Lewy bodies
- Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)
- Corticobasal degeneration (CBD)
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus
- Tremors
- Essential Tremor
- Dystonic Tremor
Other Movement Disorders
There are a number of other movement disorders that are similar to Parkinson’s but have some unique features that distinguish them from Parkinson’s. These are sometimes referred to as Parkinson’s-plus syndromes.
Further Information
Parkinsonism is a term that covers several conditions, including Parkinson’s and other conditions.
Vascular parkinsonism (also known as arteriosclerotic parkinsonism) affects people with restricted blood supply to the brain. Sometimes people who have had a mild stroke may develop this form of parkinsonism. Common symptoms include problems with memory, sleep, mood and movement.
MSA can cause stiffness and slowness of movement in the early stages. However, people with MSA can also develop symptoms that are unusual in early Parkinson’s, such as unsteadiness, falls, bladder problems and dizziness.
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rare brain disorder that causes problems with movement, walking and balance, and eye movement. It results from damage to nerve cells in the brain that control thinking and body movement.
CBS is a rare progressive neurological disorder characterized by cell loss and deterioration of specific areas of the brain. Affected individuals often initially experience motor abnormalities in one limb that eventually spreads to affect all the arms and legs. Such motor abnormalities include muscle rigidity and the inability to perform purposeful or voluntary movements (apraxia).
DLB can cause changes in attention or alertness over hours or days, often with long periods of sleep (two hours or more) during the day. Visual hallucinations — typically of small animals or children, or moving shadows in the periphery of the visual field — are common in DLB. DLB is second only to Alzheimer’s disease as a cause of dementia in the elderly, and it most commonly affects patients in their 60s.
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus mainly affects the lower half of the body. The common symptoms are walking difficulties, urinary incontinence and memory problems. Removing some cerebrospinal fluid through a needle in the lower back can help with these symptoms in the short term. If there is improvement after this procedure, an operation to divert the spinal fluid permanently (known as ventricular drainage) can help in the long term.
Having a tremor is a common feature of Parkinson’s, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you have Parkinson’s. It can also be a symptom of other conditions.
Essential Tremor is a trembling of the hands, head, legs, body or voice and is most noticeable when you are moving. This is a common type of tremor and as such, often mistaken for Parkinson’s.
Dystonia is a disorder characterised by involuntary muscle contractions that cause slow repetitive movements or abnormal postures. The movements may be painful, and some individuals with dystonia may have a tremor or other neurological symptoms.
