Explore the glossary for a better understanding of PD words and terms.
Parkinson’s is a complex condition with many unfamiliar terms. It can make learning more about the condition a bit daunting. To help you in your journey, we’ve compiled a glossary of commonly used Parkinson’s-related terms.
A
Advance Care Planning
Advance care planning involves planning for your future health care. It allows you to decide what health care you would or wouldn't want if you become unable to make or communicate your treatment preferences in the future.Akinesia
Trouble starting a movement. In Parkinson’s, akinesia means the brain struggles to send the signal to begin an action, like walking, reaching, or standing up. It’s different from just being slow or stiff. Akinesia can also happen suddenly and severely in a rare emergency called an akinetic crisis.Alexithymia
Alexithymia, often referred to as "emotional blindness." People with Parkinson's may have difficulty identifying, expressing, and understanding their own emotions. People with alexithymia may struggle to describe their feelings, recognise emotions in others, or connect physical sensations to emotional states.Alpha-synuclein
A protein that everyone has in their brain, but forms clumps called Lewy bodies in Parkinson's. It is linked both genetically and neuropathologically to Parkinson's and other synucleopathies.Amantadine
A drug that treats Parkinson's symptoms, particularly levodopa-induced dyskinesias (involuntary movements) and "off" episodes (periods of difficulty moving). It works by affecting dopamine and glutamate, which are important in the brain for movement.Amima
Absence of facial expressionAnosmia
Loss of sense of smell.Anticholinergics
Medications that reduce tremors and rigidity.Apathy
Ucharacteristic lack of motivation.Apraxia
A movement disorder where the brain has trouble planning and carrying out purposeful actions, even though the muscles work normally. People with apraxia may find it hard to perform everyday tasks like brushing teeth, getting dressed, or speaking clearly, despite wanting to and knowing how to do them. Research shows that apraxia in PD is associated with executive dysfunction, visuospatial difficulties, and language impairments.Assistive technology
Tools to aid daily activities, aka assistive devices often prescribed by an occupational therapist (OT). Mobility aids, grab bars, and chair lifts are all AT.Atypical Parkinson's
Atypical Parkinson’s or atypical parkinsonisms are a group of rare neurological disorders that share some symptoms with Parkinson’s disease but have distinct features and typically a more rapid progression. They also often do not respond well to standard Parkinson’s medications. These disorders include Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD), Lewy Body Dememtia (LBD) and Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB).Autonomic dysfunction
When the automatic stuff your body does stops being automatic. Blood pressure, digestion, sweating, and temperature regulation. Your body forgets how to run itself quietly.Axon
Part of a nerve cell that transmits impulses.
B
Biomarkers
Biological indicators of disease. Biomarkers can be biochemical (e.g. levels of alpha-syn in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)); imaging (e.g. MRI, Dopamine Transporter Imaging (DaTscan)); genetic (e.g. LRRK2, SNCA, PINK1, PARK2 (Parkin), and GBA).Bradykinesia
Slowness of movement and a primary symptom of Parkinson's.
C
Camptocormia
Severe forward bending of the spine.Carbidopa
Medication that helps levodopa work more effectively.Caregiver
Person providing care to someone with Parkinson's.Cognitive Impairment
Problems with thinking and memory.comorbidity
Comorbidity is defined as the co-occurrence of multiple disorders in the same individual, including both medical and psychiatric disorders.COMT Inhibitors
Medications that prolong the effect of levodopa.Constipation
Common prodromal (early) non-motor symptom of Parkinson's that may occur decades prior to motor symptoms where you have less than 3 movements per week.
D
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
A surgical treatment involving brain implants to treat some motor symptoms.Dementia
Dementia is a condition that affects the brain and makes it harder to remember things, think clearly, make decisions, or do everyday tasks. It’s caused by different diseases that damage brain cells over time. Dementia is not a normal part of ageing, but it becomes more common as people get older. There are different types of dementia, and each one affects the brain in its own way, so every person’s experience with dementia is different.Dendrite
Part of a nerve cell that receives impulses.Diagnosis
Identification of a disease.Dietitian
Specialist in nutrition.Digital Health Tools
Better use of technology can help improve the healthcare system for people and providers alike, helping Australians live healthier lives with greater control and better access to their information. Progress is being made to connect Australia to better digital healthcare tools with My Health Record, electronic prescriptions, my health app and telehealth.Dopamine
A neurotransmitter deficient in Parkinson's disease.Dopamine agonists
Drugs that mimic dopamine effects.Dopaminergic
Related to dopamine.Dysarthria
Difficulties with speech and voice.Dyskinesia
Involuntary, erratic, writhing movements of the face, arms, legs or trunk are often related to or a side effect of peak dose levodopa.Dysphagia
Swallowing difficultiesDystonia
Muscle contractions, often twisting spasms or cramps causing abnormal postures. An early sign of YOPD, triggered by exercise, often in the feet or calves.
E
Environmental Factors
External elements contributing to a Parkinson's diagnosis like toxins (e.g. solvents, TCEs, herbicides like paraquat & pesticides).Epidemiology
Study of disease distribution and determinants.Executive dysfunction
Difficulty planning, organising, multitasking, or initiating tasks. You still know what you want to do, you just can’t line up the steps.
F
Fatigue
Extreme tiredness that is not remedied by sleep.Festination
A rapid, shuffling, forward-leaning walk (festinating gait) seen in Parkinson's disease, where steps become quicker and shorter to prevent falling, stemming from a forward shift in the body's center of gravity.Freezing of Gait (FoG)
Sudden inability to move when walking or feeling like your feet are stuck to the floor.
G
GBA
Gene mutation increasing Parkinson's risk.Gene Therapy
Treatment involving genetic modification.Genetic Testing
Identifying genetic mutations linked to Parkinson's.Glial Cells
Supportive cells in the nervous system.
H
Hallucinations
Seeing or hearing things that aren't there.Head Trauma
Injury to the head increasing Parkinson's risk.Home modifications
Changes to make living spaces safer (e.g. grab bars). Home assessments are often undertaken by an OT and they can prescribe relevant assistive technologies and home modifications for your situation.Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis, or excessive, uncontrollable sweating, is a serious medical condition warranting serious attention. Primary hyperhidrosis tends to be a longstanding medical condition that usually begins before age 25 and can affect one or more body areas, most often the palms, armpits, soles of the feet or face, and sometimes the back, chest, groin, and under the breasts in men and women. Secondary hyperhidrosis is typically generalised or involves sweating from the whole body, and may be linked to Parkinson's.Hypokinetic dysarthria
Hypokinetic dysarthria is the specific dysarthria experienced by people with PD characterised by low-volume, monotone speech with poor articulation and slurred sounds, breathiness and irregular pauses with rapid speech rate.Hypomimia
Hypomimia, also known as masked face, is a common motor symptom of Parkinson’s disease. It refers to a reduction in facial expressiveness, making the face appear less animated or emotionally responsive.Hypophonia
Soft or fading voice. People think you’re shy or tired. You’re actually working twice as hard to be heard.Hyposmia
Decreased sense of smell.
I
Impulse Control Disorders
Compulsive behaviours resulting from a medication side effect like compulsive gambling, hypersexuality, punding, and excessive hobbyism.Incidence
Number of new cases over a period of time.Incontinence
Incontinence is a loss of bladder or bowel control that leads to wee (urine) leaking from the bladder or poo (bowel motions) from the bowel.Inflammation
The body's response to injury or infection is often associated with the gut or brain in PD.
L
Levodopa
A common medication that replaces dopamine, which your body cannot make enough of anymore, is the gold standard drug used to treat Parkinson's symptoms.Lewy Bodies
Lewy bodies are abnormal clumps of a protein called alpha‑synuclein that build up inside brain cells. In Parkinson's, these clumps damage brain cells and are linked to movement symptoms and some changes in thinking.LRRK2
Gene mutation linked to Parkinson's.
M
MAO-B Inhibitors
Drugs that slow the breakdown of dopamine.Micrographia
Small, cramped handwriting changes are often cited as a prodromal (early) symptom of PD.Mitochondria
Cell structures involved in energy production.Mobility Aids
Devices to help you move like canes and walkers.Mood Disorders
Depression and anxiety.Motor fluctuations
Changes throughout the day in motor function. People may have periods of "on-time" when medications are working well, alternating with "off-time" when medications are not working well.Motor Symptoms
Movement-related symptoms.Multidisciplinary Care
Involving various healthcare professionals.
N
Neurodegenerative
Progressive loss of nerve cells.Neuroinflammation
Inflammation in the nervous system.Neurologist
Doctor specialising in nervous system disorders.Neuron
A neuron is a special type of cell in the brain and nervous system. Neurons help us think, feel, move, and remember by sending messages between the brain and body. They do this using tiny electrical signals and chemical messengers.Neuroplasticity
Brain's ability to reorganise itself.Neuroprotective
Protecting nerve cells from damage.Neurotransmitter
Chemical messenger in the brain.Nocturia
Nocturia means waking from sleep more than once during the night to pass urine (wee). Nocturia is one of the most common non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s and affects more than half of people with the condition.Non-motor symptoms
Non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s refer to the wide range of symptoms that don’t directly affect movement but still have a significant impact on daily life. These symptoms can appear before, alongside, or after motor symptoms like tremor or stiffness. They include changes in mood, sleep, digestion, thinking, and sensory perception.
O
Occupational Therapist
An occupational therapist (OT) is a vital part of your care team. They specialise in helping you participate in daily activities (also referred to as ‘occupations‘) that are meaningful and necessary for your everyday lives. Some can prescribe assistive technologies. They can then tailor interventions to your needs, goals and values to address your specific symptoms. OTs can help you identify and build on your strengths, adapt activities you love so you can stay engaged, and modify your environment at home or work so you can safely continue doing what you value most.On-Off Phenomenon
Fluctuations in motor performance as medication doses start and stop working.Orthostatic Hypotension
Drop in blood pressure upon standing.
P
Palliative care
Palliative care aims to enhance the wellbeing of patients and their families dealing with serious illnesses. It deals with the spiritual, physical, social and emotional aspects of living with Parkinson's and is not just end-of-life care.Parkin Gene
Gene associated with young onset Parkinson's.Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39)
The PDQ-39 assesses how often people with Parkinson's experience difficulties across 8 dimensions of daily living, including relationships, social situations and communication.Parkinsonism
Symptoms are similar to Parkinson's but caused by other conditions. Parkinsonism can be typical or atypical.Patient Advocacy
Efforts to support and protect patient rights.Pelvic floor weakness
Pelvic floor weakness refers to reduced strength or coordination in the muscles that support your bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs. These muscles form a kind of “hammock” at the base of your pelvis and help control when you go to the toilet. In Parkinson’s, pelvic floor weakness can happen because the brain has trouble sending clear signals to these muscles.Pesticides
Chemicals linked to increased Parkinson's risk.Physiotherapist
Specialist in physical rehabilitation.Placebo
Inactive substance used in clinical trials.Postural instability
Difficulty maintaining balance, especially unsteadiness when standing. It increases the risk of falls, especially backwards.Prevalence
Number of cases in a population at a given time.Prodromal Symptoms
Early signs of disease before full symptoms develop.Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is an adult-onset neurological disease, classified as a degenerative brain disorder. It is named due to characteristic eye movement problems that result from damage deep in the brain in an area called the midbrain. Aside from eye movement problems, PSP may affect movement and balance, thinking and speech.Punding
Repetitive, purposeless behaviours.
Q
Quality of Life
Overall wellbeing and life satisfaction.
R
Randomised Controlled Trial
Participants randomly assigned to treatment or control group.REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder (RBD)
Acting out dreams during sleep. Calling out in your sleep. RBD is highly linked to PD and other neurological disorders.Research Funding
Financial support for scientific studies.Restless Legs Syndrome
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition characterised by an irresistible urge to move the legs, often accompanied by unpleasant sensations such as crawling, creeping, itching, pulling, or throbbing.Rigidity
Stiffness in the muscles. One of the four cardinal symptoms of PD.Risk Factors
Elements increasing the likelihood of developing a disease.
S
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Skin condition causing flaky, itchy skin.Sialorrhea
Excessive drooling.Social Worker
Professional providing support and resources.Speech Changes (dysarthria)
Soft or slurred speech resulting from slower muscle movement in the face and neck.Speech Pathologist
Specialist in communication and swallowing.Stem Cells
Cells with the potential to develop into different cell types.Substantia Nigra
Brain region affected in Parkinson's.Support Group
Group providing mutual support and information.Sweating
Excessive perspiration.Synapse
Junction between two nerve cells.
T
Telemedicine
Remote healthcare services.Tremor
Involuntary shaking, often starting in the hands. In PD, only about 70% of people have a resting tremor. The rest will have no tremor or an action tremor. Can occur as Essential or familial tremor and for reasons other than Parkinson's.Trichloroethylene (TCEs)
Trichloroethylene is used with adhesives, lubricants, paints, varnishes, paint strippers, pesticides, and cold metal cleaners.
U
Urinary Problems
Incontinence or urgency.
W
Wearable Technology
Devices monitoring health, tremors, gait and physical activity.World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0)
The WHODAS is a generic assessment instrument developed by WHO to provide a standardised method for measuring health and disability across cultures.
Y
Young onset Parkinson's
Parkinson's that is diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50. In Australia, because of the working age and access to NDIS funding, we classify as PwP 65 or younger. Often experience PD differently as they have a different set of stressors because of age and stage of life.
