Clinical diagnostics

The early diagnosis of Parkinson’s is decisive for the course of the disease. We use targeted neurological examinations to identify first symptoms and differentiate Parkinson’s from other movement disorders.

Biomarkers

Analyses of blood and cerebrospinal fluid are important tools in Parkinson diagnostics because they help us to better understand the disease. Using biomarkers, Parkinson’s can potentially be identified before the first symptoms occur and the course of the disease can be better understood. In addition, biomarkers also aid the differentiation of Parkinson’s from other neurodegenerative diseases and enable treatment to be tailored to the patient. They also play a crucial role in the development of new drugs because they help to measure the efficacy of new treatments. All in all, these analyses help us to treat Parkinson’s earlier, more precisely, and in a more targeted way.

Imaging

Modern imaging methods can visualize pathological protein deposits in the brain that play a central role in Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. These deposits impair cell function and contribute to the progression of the disease. Using imaging methods, we can often identify such changes before the first symptoms occur. This helps to make the diagnosis more precise and treatment can be tailored to the individual patient.

Drug therapy

Drug therapy is based on treatment with dopamine substitutes that can alleviate the symptoms. In addition, there are non-medication based approaches such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy that improve mobility and quality of life.

Preclinical models

Preclinical models allow us to research Parkinson’s in detail and develop new therapeutic approaches. They help us to test innovative active ingredients and treatment strategies before they are tested on humans in clinical trials.

Clinical trials

The efficacy of new drugs and forms of treatment are tested in clinical trials. Only through research are we able to achieve a sustained improvement in patients’ quality of life.

Invasive treatment methods

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) can be a promising treatment for patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease. Thin electrodes are implanted in specific brain regions that control movement, such as the subthalamic nucleus or the globus pallidus internus. A stimulator implanted under the skin sends targeted electrical signals to regulate abnormal neuronal activity patterns. In this way, symptoms such as shaking (tremor), muscle stiffness (rigor) and slowness of movement (bradykinesia) can be significantly reduced.

DBS not only alleviates motor symptoms, but also improves the patients’ quality of life by lowering the dosage of drugs required and reducing side effects such as uncontrolled movement (dyskinesia). Advances in the technology allow individual adjustment of the stimulation, for instance, by so-called adaptive systems that react to brain activity in real time, with the result that treatment could become even more effective and precise in the future.

A further treatment option in advanced Parkinson’s disease is pump therapies, such as a levodopa-carbidopa infusion pump. They facilitate continuous medication delivery and help to reduce fluctuations in the effect of the medication.

Telemedicine in Parkinson’s

Digital solutions enable patients to be looked after close to home. Telemedicine improves care, reduces travel by patients, and makes the adjustment of treatments easier.