Parkinson's disease (PD) affects approximately 1 million individuals in the United States and up to 5 million worldwide. Diagnosing PD in its early stages can be challenging as it is primarily a clinical diagnosis. In addition, there is some debate as to how early to begin treatment and which pharmacologic agents to use. Nonmotor symptoms that can occur in early PD include constipation, reduced sense of smell (hyposmia), and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. However, patients are often not definitively diagnosed until they exhibit the classic motor symptoms of PD in its later stages: tremor, rigidity, and/or slowness of movement (bradykinesia). Medical management of PD typically includes combining a number of different agents to optimize clinical outcomes. This recording video of a live stream will allow physicians and their treatment teams who manage patients with PD to view a dynamic, interactive discussion with faculty who are recognized experts in this field. At the conclusion of this activit, participants should be able to apply knowledge about PD treatment options to make patient-centered management decisions.
Recognize symptoms that may occur early in the course of Parkinson's disease that can facilitate differential diagnosis. Assess the rationale for and potential benefits of early medical treatment of Parkinson's disease in selected patients. Evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmacologic agents used in the management of Parkinson's disease to delay disease progression and control symptoms.
1.0 Free Contact Hours for Nurse Practitioners which includes 0.5 Hours of Pharmacology
Expires 7/13/13