Parkinson’s Disease

BJC HealthCare works with WashU Medicine, BJC Medical Group, and providers across the region to deliver exceptional care. We use the latest technologies to provide effective Parkinson’s disease treatment. Our research efforts allow us to continually provide innovative care in discovery and application of new treatments as they are discovered.

You benefit from:

• Leading-edge treatments: We are the first to offer many of the most advanced drugs and surgical options available for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, including those approved by the FDA, and those approved for clinical trial. 
• Expert neurosurgery: The Neuroscience Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital is a top center in the U.S. in terms of the number of deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedures performed. Our specialists have used DBS to treat hundreds of patients with Parkinson’s disease, helping them return to many of their usual activities with reduced need for medication. This center is also the only in Missouri to offer high-intensity focused ultrasound (HiFu), an incisionless surgery to treat tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease.
• World-class research: In addition to providing care, WashU Medicine physicians research innovative ways to diagnose and treat Parkinson’s disease.
• Multispecialty team: We offer a multidisciplinary approach to care by bringing together a team of experts to treat your individual needs safely and effectively. Your team includes physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, dietitians, and pharmacists working together to create a comprehensive treatment plan. These experts include nationally recognized subspecialists in movement disorders, like Parkinson’s disease, who are known for treating complex cases.
• Personalized care: Our personalized approach to care ensures that your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs are met in the most coordinated, compassionate manner possible.

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological condition resulting from low levels of a brain chemical called dopamine. It can lead to a variety of physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms, including:

• Slowed movement
• Stiff muscles
• Tremors
• Balance problems
• Constipation or urinary problems
• Depression
• Difficulty swallowing or speaking
• Fatigue
• Loss of smell
• Sleep disorders
• Thinking and memory problems

There is no known cure for Parkinson’s disease, but there are many ways to help control it, manage symptoms, and slow its progression. We treat each person with Parkinson’s disease individually. We know each patient’s symptoms, overall health, and treatment goals are unique. Our specialists work together to customize your unique care plan.

Treatment options include:

• Medicine: Several prescription medications treat Parkinson’s disease, and this is typically the first line of treatment. These medicines help adjust dopamine levels in the brain.
• Surgical treatment: We may recommend deep brain stimulation (DBS) or high-intensity focused ultrasound (HiFu) depending on your response to medicine. DBS implants electrodes into the brain and an electrical device into the chest. The devices work together to stimulate areas of the brain that control movement. HiFu is an incisionless procedure that treats tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease.
• Therapy: Working with specialized physical, occupational, and speech therapists can help you manage many of the physical symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Maintaining physical strength, independence, swallowing, and communication skills are just a few ways therapy can help.