This completely updated Second Edition represents a major revision with even more directed treatment guidelines, updated discussions relating to the possible cause(s), and assessments of the current and future role of surgical and innovative strategies.



As many as one million Americans, including Michael J. Fox and Muhammad Ali, suffer from Parkinson's Disease. Now, a leader in the fight against Parkinson's, Dr. J. Eric Ahlskog of the Mayo Clinic, has revised and updated his definitive guide for patients and their families. Dr. Ahlskog offers a crystal-clear, nuts-and-bolts approach to the treatment of PD, distilled from more than 30 years of experience as a clinician and researcher. His goal is to educate patients so that they can better team with their doctors to do battle with the disease, streamlining the decision-making process and enhancing their treatment. To do this, Dr. Ahlskog offers a gold mine of information: How do I know if I have PD? What kinds of tests can I take? What medications slow the progress of the disease? What if medications don't help my tremor? What kinds of movement problems may develop later? How can I cope with insomnia and daytime sleepiness, dizziness and depression, memory problems, paranoia, and delusions? Indeed, the book covers virtually every topic related to Parkinson's, from sexual impotence and skin rashes, to the role of nutrition, exercise, and physical therapy. In addition, Dr. Ahlskog discusses brain surgery (though he urges that patients only consider this as a last resort) and such experimental therapies as stem cell transplantation and gene therapy. There are also lists of support and advocacy groups and Web sites that focus on Parkinson's. The ultimate guide to symptoms and treatment, this thoroughly updated Second Edition is the first place patients should turn for reliable, easy-to-grasp information on Parkinson's disease.