Diagnosis & Tests

Learn how Parkinson's disease is diagnosed, and the tests your doctor may perform to arrive at a diagnosis.

How Is Parkinson's Diagnosed? It has been estimated that, especially in its early stages, nearly 40% of people with Parkinson’s Disease may not be diagnosed, and as many as 25% are misdiagnosed.
Parkinson's and PET Scans A positron emission topography (PET) scan is a test used to give you and your doctors more information about how the cells in your body are functioning.
What Does a CT Scan Do? CT, or computed tomography, uses X-rays and computers to produce images of inside the body, including the brain. This test is used to look for signs of disease like Parkinson's.
How MRI Exams Are Used for Diagnosis MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, is a test that produces very clear images of the human body without the use of X-rays.