Parkinsons is not thought to be inherited but there are cases where it affects more than one family member. Research studies are being carried out to find out what might cause this to occur. There is one thing that we are certain about - it is NOT contagious. Neurologists diagnose Parkinsons by taking a thorough medical history and doing a careful clinical examination. Often tests are done to rule out other conditions which resemble Parkinsons.
Treatment is needed to correct the chemical imbalance.
Drugs alleviate the symptoms but do not halt the progression of Parkinsons. As the symptoms increase, more medication is needed. While treatment does enable people to function better, it is not perfect and may cause side effects. Ongoing research is focused on finding more effective treatments. I must stress that not for nothing has PD been called a designer disease.