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Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorders

Care Across the Region

Movement disorders are a group of conditions characterized by loss of normal movement or the presence of abnormal movements. Although weakness may be a symptom, movement disorders typically result in other problems including slowed movement, difficulty with smooth, coordinated movement or involuntary movement.

This page features information about the Movement Disorders Center at Albany Medical Center. To schedule an appointment at the Movement Disorders Center at Albany Medical Center, call 518-262-6611.

Learn more about neurology services at Columbia Memorial Health, Glens Falls Hospital, and Saratoga Hospital.

All providers and locations in the System can be found in the Get Care section of this page.

Parkinson's Disease

We specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s disease and related disorders such as progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple system atrophy, and drug-induced parkinsonism. Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disease of the nervous system that causes the premature loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. The dopamine deficiency gives rise to the characteristic symptoms of tremor, slowness, stiffness, and imbalance.

Treatment

Although there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, symptoms usually improve with treatment. Currently available medications have the potential to dramatically improve symptoms by increasing the amount of dopamine in the brain. However, these medicines must be prescribed with care due to potential side effects and the variation of dosage needed in individual patients.

Deep Brain Stimulation

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an advanced functional neurosurgical procedure that has transformed the care of patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. Our DBS program is comprised of neurologists and neurosurgeons with training and experience in DBS.

Clinical Research

We have evaluated over 3,000 patients and currently follow over 500 patients on a regular basis. We have been involved in several investigational drug trials over the past 20 years that have included medications for patients with both early and advanced disease. As a result, our patients have had access to the most advanced treatments for their condition, in many cases, years before they have been available to the general public.

Parkinson's Study Group

Our center is an active investigative site for the Parkinson's Study Group. This is a consortium of the most prestigious academic programs in North America designed to evaluate new treatments for Parkinson’s disease independent of the pharmaceutical industry.