Parkinson’s Disease vs. Parkinsonism: How the Symptoms Differ

Jun 25, 2026

Medically reviewed by Heidi Moawad, M.D. — Written by Rachael Zimlich, RN, BSN — Updated on February 19, 2026

Key takeaways

  • Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that involves reduced dopamine levels.
  • Parkinsonism is a broad term describing conditions that involve movement symptoms such as slowness of movement, rigidity, and tremor. Sometimes, Parkinson’s disease is defined as a type of parkinsonism.
  • While Parkinson’s disease typically develops gradually due to genetic and environmental factors, other types of parkinsonism can have sudden onset and may be caused by strokes, brain injuries, infections, or certain medications.

Parkinson’s disease and parkinsonism are both characterized by tremors, stiffness, and movement problems.

However, there are subtle differences that doctors can use to tell whether the symptoms are due to Parkinson’s disease or parkinsonism.

In this article, we discuss the difference between Parkinson’s disease and parkinsonism, diagnosis, and management.

Parkinsonism vs. Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder where damage to neurons leads to a decrease in neurotransmitters like dopamine. Symptoms may include movement problems, tremors, depression, and communication issues.

Parkinsonism is an umbrella term for a group of conditions that cause tremors, slow movement, and stiffness.

Other conditions and events that may produce symptoms of parkinsonism include:

  • certain medications
  • brain tumors
  • certain brain infections
  • stroke/vascular parkinsonism
  • head trauma
  • metabolic conditions
  • toxins
  • atypical parkinsonisms

Atypical parkinsonisms, which used to be defined as Parkinson’s plus, are neurodegenerative conditions that cause movement symptoms similar to those of Parkinson’s disease along with additional symptoms that are not necessarily part of Parkinson’s disease.

Common atypical parkinsonisms include multi-system atrophy (MSA), Lewy body dementia, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and corticobasal degeneration.

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Foot health and gait safety: An action plan for confident walking

Jun 24, 2026

Last updated Aug. 1, 2025, by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Fact-checked by Patrícia Silva, PhD

If you or a loved one is living with Parkinson’s disease, you already know it can affect movement. But you might be surprised by how much it can impact your feet.

Understanding how Parkinson’s affects your feet — and what you can do about it — can help you stay more comfortable, confident, and mobile.

How Parkinson’s affects the feet

Parkinson’s symptoms (such as stiffness, tremors, and posture changes) can shift your weight forward, putting extra pressure on your feet and making it harder to stay balanced.

These issues are closely linked to changes in gait or the way you walk. Over time, these gait changes can lead to painful foot problems, a higher risk of falls, and even a fear of walking.

You may also notice cramping or spasms that come and go, known as dystonia, which often causes clenched or curling toes and painful spasms in the feet. It’s common in Parkinson’s, especially in the morning when medications wear off.

Nail issues and ankle discomfort are also common. In a 2022 study comparing adults with and without Parkinson’s, those with Parkinson’s reported more challenges with tasks like toenail trimming and walking.

They also perceived a worse health state of their feet compared with people without Parkinson’s, with some reporting that their foot problems negatively affected their quality of life.

The good news is that with the right foot care and support, many of these problems can be effectively managed, helping you stay active and safe.

What is Parkinson’s gait?

One of the most recognizable signs of Parkinson’s disease is a change in how you walk. This is often referred to as Parkinson’s gait, and it can affect your stability, step pattern, and overall mobility.

Common features of Parkinson’s gait include:

  • short, shuffling steps
  • reduced arm swing
  • forward-leaning posture
  • trouble turning
  • freezing episodes (suddenly being unable to move).

These changes often develop later in the disease and are tied to slower, smaller, and more rigid movements. You may notice your legs feel stiff or heavy, and lifting your feet can be difficult. Walking flat-footed instead of heel-first is also common and can affect balance.

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The 5 Stages of Parkinson’s

Jun 23, 2026


Medically reviewed by Nancy Hammond, M.D. — Written by Kristeen Cherney — Updated on June 6, 2025

Key takeaways

  • Stage 1 is the mildest form, where symptoms don’t interfere with daily tasks, tremors affect only one side of the body, and prescribed medications can effectively minimize and reduce symptoms, while Stage 2 is a moderate form with more noticeable symptoms
  • Stage 3 marks a major turning point in disease progression. It is characterized by loss of balance, decreased reflexes, slower overall movements, and an increased likelihood of falls, though people can still complete daily tasks with help, while Stage 4 is characterized by an increasing loss of independence and need for assistance.
  • Stage 5 is the most advanced, requiring wheelchairs and around-the-clock assistance, with up to 50% of people experiencing confusion, hallucinations, and delusions, and between 50% and 80% developing dementia

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease (Parkinsonism) is marked by the presence of certain recognizable symptoms. These include uncontrollable shaking or tremor, lack of coordination, and speaking difficulties. However, symptoms vary and may worsen as the disease progresses.

The main symptoms of Parkinson’s include:

  • uncontrollable shaking and tremors
  • slowed movement (bradykinesia)
  • balance difficulties and eventual problems standing up
  • stiffness in limbs

Many doctors who diagnose this brain disorder rely on the Hoehn and Yahr rating scale to classify the severity of symptoms. The scale is broken into five stages based on disease progression. The five stages help doctors evaluate how far the disease has advanced.

Stage 1

Stage 1 is the mildest form of Parkinson’s. At this stage, there may be symptoms, but they’re not severe enough to interfere with daily tasks and overall lifestyle. In fact, the symptoms are so minimal at this stage that they’re often missed. But family and friends may notice changes in your posture, walk, or facial expressions.

A distinct symptom of stage 1 Parkinson’s is that tremors and other difficulties in movement are generally exclusive to one side of the body. Prescribed medications can work effectively to minimize and reduce symptoms at this stage.

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Getting early Parkinson’s psychosis care for your parent

Jun 22, 2026

Written by Patricia Weiser, PharmD | Last updated April 6, 2026
Fact-checked by Patrícia Silva, PhD

If your parent is living with Parkinson’s disease, you may eventually notice changes that go beyond symptoms that affect mobility. Some patients begin to see, hear, or sense things that others do not. These experiences can be part of Parkinson’s psychosis.

These symptoms are more common than many families realize. Research suggests that 20% to 40% of people with the disease experience hallucinations or delusions. Recognizing these signs early and discussing them with your parent’s care team can help guide care decisions.

Signs to watch for in your parent

Spotting early Parkinson’s psychosis symptoms may be difficult because they are often subtle and may be mistaken for normal aging or fatigue. Your parent may also feel embarrassed or unsure about how to talk about what they are experiencing.

While symptoms can look different from person to person, Parkinson’s psychosis most often appears as hallucinations, illusions, or delusions.

Hallucinations

Hallucinations in Parkinson’s involve seeing, hearing, or sensing things that are not actually there. Hallucinations may last only seconds or minutes. You might notice your parent:

  • seeing people, animals, or unfamiliar figures
  • hearing voices, music, or knocking that others do not hear
  • talking to relatives, neighbors, or pets that died long ago

Illusions

Illusions are similar to hallucinations but occur when something real is misinterpreted. These experiences can happen when the lighting is dim or when an object is viewed from a distance. Examples of illusions may include mistaking a shadow, a coat rack, or a lamp for a person, or believing someone moved in the room when it was only a shifting shadow.

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Autoimmunity and Parkinson’s: Is Parkinson’s Considered an Autoimmune Disease?

Jun 19, 2026

Medically reviewed by Heidi Moawad, M.D. — Written by Jill Seladi-Schulman, Ph.D. on May 23, 2023

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement as well as mental and emotional changes. The exact cause is unknown, but researchers are investigating if autoimmune factors may play a role.

PD is a neurological disorder where nerve cells in your brain become damaged or begin to die. While the cause of PD is unknown, there’s evidence that the immune system might be involved.

Below, we’ll cover more about PD and how autoimmune activity could contribute to it. Keep reading to learn more.

What is an autoimmune disease?

Autoimmune diseases happen when your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues. This can cause inflammation and tissue damage in the affected areas of your body.

There are many different types of autoimmune diseases. Some that you may be familiar with include:

  • lupus
  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • psoriasis
  • type 1 diabetes
  • multiple sclerosis

Is Parkinson’s disease considered an autoimmune disease?

The exact cause of PD is unknown, and it’s currently not considered an autoimmune disease. While there’s some evidence that immune factors might be associated with PD, there’s no evidence so far that these immune factors actually cause PD.

A 2017 study found that PD may have genetic factors in common with some autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and others.

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What is Pump-Delivered Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease?

Jun 18, 2026

Medically reviewed by Susan W. Lee, DO — Written by The Healthline Editorial Team — Updated on July 22, 2025

Pump delivered therapy can help some people ease their Parkinson’s symptoms, especially when a type of medications begins to wear off and symptoms worsen or reappear.

A longtime dream for many living with Parkinson’s disease has been to reduce the number of daily pills or injections needed to manage symptoms. The more the disease progresses, the trickier it can become to manage symptoms.

Pump infusion therapy is becoming a new way to manage certain medications, particularly those to help with OFF episodes when Parkinson’s symptoms may reappear or get worse if a medication is wearing off.

 

Since October 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved for the first time 2 new devices that can be continuously worn on the body and offer a steady stream of Parkinson’s medications into your bloodstream. Think of these like insulin pumps for people with diabetes, who use these small wearable devices to get their needed insulin continuously throughout the day and night.

 

This type of technology can make it more manageable in the face of changing Parkinson’s symptoms, possibly reducing the amount of medications or injections needed to manage symptoms and the disease overall.

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