Over 4 million people worldwide and 1 in every 500 people in the UK, suffer from Parkinson's Disease. Now, a leader in the fight against Parkinson's, Dr. J. Eric Ahlskog of the Mayo Clinic, has written the definitive guide for patients and their families. Dr. Alhskog offers a crystal-clear, nuts-and-bolts approach to the treatment of PD, distilled from over twenty years of experience as a clinician and researcher. His goal is to educate the patient so that they can better team with their doctor to do battle with the disease, streamlining the decision-making process and enhancing their treatment. To do this, Dr. Ahlskog offers a gold mine of information: How do I know if I have PD? What kinds of tests can I take? What medications slow the progress of the disease? What if medications don't help my tremor? What kinds of movement problems may develop later? How can I cope with insomnia and daytime sleepiness, dizziness and depression, memory problems, paranoia, and delusions? Indeed, the book covers virtually every topic related to Parkinson's, from sexual impotence and skin rashes, to the role of nutrition, exercise, and physical therapy. In addition, Dr. Ahlskog discusses brain surgery (though he urges that patients only consider this as a last resort) and such experimental therapies as stem cell transplantation and gene therapy. There are also lists of support and advocacy groups and Internet sites that focus on Parkinson's. The ultimate guide to symptoms and treatment, this superb book is the first place patients should turn for reliable, easy-to-grasp information on Parkinson's disease.