Unlocking the secrets of Parkinson disease.

Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects more than 1 million people in the United States. Although there is no cure for PD, medication, physical and occupational therapy, psychological counseling, dietary changes and surgery can help patients manage their condition and prolong their quality of life. Medical imaging studies play an important role in PD research and in the surgical procedures used to alleviate PD symptoms. People who have PD cannot always control their body movement and often experience balance and coordination difficulties. Therefore, radiologic technologists need to be especially skillful when caring for these patients.