Parkinson’s disease has to be diagnosed by a combination of conditions, and there is no absolute simplest way to identify it.
1. Diagnostic criteria (necessary conditions): motor retardation and the presence of at least myotonia or resting tremor.
2. Supporting criteria (supporting conditions): a clear and significant therapeutic effect of dopaminergic drugs; the presence of levodopa-induced anisotropy; and a resting tremor of a single limb observed on physical examination.
3. Exclusion criteria (these conditions should not be present): clear cerebellar ataxia such as cerebellar gait with selective slowing of downward vertical sweep; diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia within 5 years of onset; Parkinsonian symptoms confined to the lower limbs within 3 years of onset; and clear cortical compound sensory loss.
4. Warning signs (to support the determination of other diseases): rapidly progressive gait disorder within 5 years, the presence of motor neuron ballistic dysfunction, the presence of inspiratory respiratory dysfunction, and so on.
Clinical confirmation of the diagnosis of Parkinson’s requires the presence of multiple factors, and there are no absolute exclusion criteria. At least 2 supportive criteria and the absence of a warning phenomenon are required to suspect the possibility of the disease.
Patients who suspect Parkinson’s disease should go to the hospital in time to receive professional diagnosis and treatment, and should not blindly make their own judgment.