Parkinson Disease

• The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) are clinical scoring tools used to assess the severity of parkinson disease [these are available online for a fee]

1. Deficiency of which neurotransmitter is associated with the development of Parkinson Disease? 

a) Acetylcholine

b) Serotonin

c) Dopamine

d) Glutamate

2. Which of the following symptoms would MOST LIKELY be present at initial diagnosis of PD? 

a) Bradykinesia

b) Cognitive impairment

c) Postural instability

d) Symmetrical resting tremor 

3. Which of the following is NOT a risk factor for PD? 

a) Older age at onset

b) Female

c) Rigidity is the first presenting symptom

d) Comorbid dementia

4. Which of the following medications is LEAST likely to cause or worsen PD? 

a) Lithium

b) Haloperidol

c) Prochlorperazine

d) Quetiapine

5. Which of the following statements regarding PD therapeutics is TRUE?

a) Early initiation with levodopa/carbidopa significantly slows disease progression in patients with early PD

b) Levodopa hastens disease progression in early PD

c) Levodopa is the most effective agent for treating motor symptoms

d) Adding carbidopa to levodopa reduces the half-life of levodopa