Brandan Mehaffie had been doing triathlons for about five years when he suddenly found himself struggling to finish a race. \u201cI felt like I was dragging the whole left side of my body, which, as it turns out, I was,\u201d Mehaffie said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Over time, the Elizabethtown resident noticed more problems: shaky hands, muscle cramps and joint pain. At 40, he learned he had Parkinson\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n
April is National Parkinson\u2019s Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about a disease that affects about 1.1 million Americans. Today, advanced treatments are helping people like Mehaffie stay active longer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the right team and the right plan, people with Parkinson\u2019s can have independent, high-functioning lives,\u201d said Dr. Sol De Jesus<\/a>, a neurologist at Penn State Neuroscience Institute<\/a>.<\/p>\n What is Parkinson\u2019s disease? <\/p>\n Parkinson\u2019s disease is a progressive movement disorder. Inside the brain, cells that produce dopamine, a brain chemical that helps control movement, start dying early.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t know exactly what causes Parkinson\u2019s disease, but several factors may contribute, such as aging, environmental exposures and genetics,\u201d De Jesus said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Most patients are diagnosed in their 60s, but about 10% learn they have Parkinson\u2019s before age 50.<\/p>\n What are the symptoms? <\/p>\n Parkinson\u2019s disease symptoms can vary. Many people associate Parkinson\u2019s with tremors, although up to 20% to 30% of patients might not experience them. The symptoms that tend to bother patients most are slowness and stiffness, or trouble starting movements, said Dr. James McInerney<\/a>, a neurosurgeon at Penn State Health Neurosurgery<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cPatients often tell me they\u2019re having a hard time doing things, such as getting up out of a chair or walking down the hall,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019ll shuffle or be unsteady.\u201d Early signs of Parkinson\u2019s often begin on one side of the body. Some people also notice changes in smell or taste, sleep disruption, mood changes or constipation.<\/p>\n What are the latest treatments for Parkinson\u2019s disease?\u00a0 <\/p>\n There is no cure for Parkinson\u2019s disease. The goal of Parkinson\u2019s disease treatment is to ease symptoms and improve daily life.\u00a0<\/p>\n Doctors often start with lifestyle changes, such as exercising 30 minutes a day and improving sleep. When symptoms interfere with work or family responsibilities, treatments include:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Medications: Carbidopa-levodopa pills help replace lost dopamine to reduce symptoms. Some people opt for pumps that deliver medication under the skin for steadier relief. However, these devices can also restrict movement. \u00a0 Parkinson\u2019s medications can cause involuntary, dance-like movements called dyskinesias. Over time, the side effects can be disruptive or symptom relief might wane. That\u2019s when doctors might suggest more advanced options.Focused ultrasound: This procedure uses ultrasound waves to create tiny lesions in brain regions involved in tremors. In 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved focused ultrasound for treating symptoms of Parkinson\u2019s disease on one side of the brain. In 2025, it was approved for use on both sides.Deep brain stimulation: A surgeon implants thin electrodes into the brain and a small pacemaker-like device under the skin in the upper chest. The device, called a neurostimulator, delivers targeted electrical impulses to areas of the brain that manage motor control, overriding the faulty signals that cause symptoms<\/p>\n \u201cBrain cells fire at frequencies, just like radio stations have frequencies, and you can think about Parkinson’s disease as a new radio station that showed up,\u201d McInerney said. \u201cJust like any other radio signal, you can jam that signal with a neurostimulator.\u201d<\/p>\n Deep brain stimulation has been used in Parkinson\u2019s disease for decades. In 2025, the FDA approved a more customizable form of this treatment. Adaptive deep brain stimulation responds to changes in the patient\u2019s brain signals throughout the day. The device can be set to automatically adjust stimulation up and down as needed to improve symptom control and potentially extend battery life.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe system can identify when you need a little boost and then provide it,\u201d McInerney said.<\/p>\n