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Parkinson's Disease: Expert Diagnosis & Treatment in Hyderabad
Including MRgFUS and Deep Brain Stimulation at KIMS Neuroscience — the only centre in Telangana and AP offering both advanced treatments.
Movement Disorders
Neurology & Neurosurgery
MRgFUS · DBS · Levodopa
- What it is
- A progressive neurological condition where the brain loses dopamine-producing cells, causing tremor, slowness, and rigidity.
- Who it affects
- Approximately 1 in 100 people over age 60. Young-onset Parkinson's (before 50) occurs and is often genetic.
- Earliest signs
- Loss of smell, REM sleep behaviour disorder, constipation, and small handwriting — often years before tremor.
- Diagnosis
- Clinical exam, levodopa challenge, brain MRI, and DaTscan. No single test confirms it.
- KIMS advantage
- Only centre in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh offering both MRgFUS and DBS.
- Treatment goal
- Symptom control and quality of life — not cure. With the right plan, most patients live well for many years.
- When to act
- Any new tremor, slowness, or stiffness without obvious cause — earlier diagnosis means better long-term outcome.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Category | Neurodegenerative · Movement Disorder |
| Second most common | Worldwide, after Alzheimer's Disease (8.5 million+ people globally per WHO) |
| Primary cause | Dopamine cell loss in the substantia nigra; alpha-synuclein (Lewy body) accumulation |
| First-line treatment | Levodopa-Carbidopa, optimised by a movement disorder specialist |
| Advanced options at KIMS | Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) |
| Hereditary in | Only 10–15% of cases — most are sporadic |
About This Condition
What Is Parkinson's Disease?
Parkinson's Disease is a condition in which the brain gradually loses its ability to produce dopamine — the chemical messenger your brain uses to coordinate smooth, controlled movement. When dopamine levels fall low enough, movement becomes slower, stiffer, and harder to control, producing the tremors, rigidity, and slowness most people associate with Parkinson's.
Parkinson's is the second most common neurodegenerative condition in the world, after Alzheimer's Disease. The World Health Organization estimates that over 8.5 million people are living with it globally. In India, the true number is likely far higher than official figures suggest, because many cases — particularly in rural areas — go undiagnosed for years.
With the right treatment — and in Hyderabad today, that includes some of the most advanced treatments in the world — most people with Parkinson's live for many years with a good quality of life. At KIMS Neuroscience, Secunderabad, the team has run the region's Parkinson's programme for over two decades. KIMS Neuroscience pioneered both Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and MRgFUS in this region — the two most advanced surgical treatments. KIMS is the only centre in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh offering both treatments.
Book a Consultation
Speak directly with our specialist team. No referral required. Monday to Saturday.
040-44885000International enquiries: info@kimsneurosciences.comWhat Are the Symptoms?
Parkinson's symptoms fall into two groups: movement symptoms (which most people know about) and non-movement symptoms (which often appear years before motor problems start and are still frequently overlooked).
Movement Symptoms
Tremor at rest
A rhythmic shaking, most commonly in one hand or fingers, that happens when the hand is relaxed and still. Typically reduces when reaching for something — usually the first symptom families notice.
Slowness of movement (bradykinesia)
Everything takes longer. Walking slows, arms don't swing, facial expressions become less animated, and tasks like buttoning a shirt or getting out of a chair become a real effort.
Stiffness and rigidity
Muscles feel tight or stiff. Arms and legs feel heavy and difficult to move freely. Many people describe aching shoulders as an early symptom before diagnosis.
Balance problems
In later stages, balance is affected and falls become a risk. This is typically not an early symptom.
Freezing
A sudden episode where the feet feel stuck to the floor and the person cannot take the next step. Happens most often in doorways, when turning, or in crowded spaces.
Non-Movement Symptoms(often the earliest signs)
Loss of the sense of smell
One of the most consistent early signs of Parkinson's. Persistent loss of smell without an obvious cause warrants neurological evaluation.
Acting out dreams (REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder)
Physically moving, talking, shouting, or striking out during sleep. A known early sign of Parkinson's in many patients.
Constipation
Chronic, unexplained constipation is more common in people who will later develop Parkinson's than in the general population.
Depression and anxiety
These are not just reactions to having Parkinson's — they are symptoms of the disease itself, caused by the same dopamine changes affecting mood.
Soft or monotone voice
The voice gradually becomes quieter and less varied in tone.
Small handwriting (micrographia)
Letters gradually become smaller and more cramped — a subtle but important early indicator.
What Causes Parkinson's Disease?
The direct cause of Parkinson's is the loss of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra. What causes those cells to die? Research has identified several contributing factors:
Protein build-up (Lewy bodies)
Alpha-synuclein protein folds into the wrong shape and clumps inside brain cells, forming Lewy bodies. These clumps damage and eventually kill the cells they accumulate in.
Genetic factors
About 10–15% of cases are linked to an inherited gene change — most commonly LRRK2, SNCA, PINK1, or PRKN. A family history modestly increases risk, but most relatives do not develop Parkinson's.
Environmental factors
Long-term exposure to certain pesticides and herbicides has been associated with higher risk. Significant head injuries have also been linked.
Age
The single biggest risk factor. Parkinson's affects approximately 1 in 100 people over 60, with risk rising each decade. Young-onset Parkinson's (before 50) does occur and is more likely to have a genetic cause.
Diagnosis at KIMS
How Is Parkinson's Diagnosed at KIMS?
There is no single blood test or brain scan that definitively diagnoses Parkinson's. The diagnosis is made by a specialist following the Movement Disorder Society criteria — a careful examination of symptoms and a series of targeted tests.
Detailed symptom history
The specialist explores when symptoms first appeared, which side was affected first, how symptoms have progressed, and any non-movement symptoms or family history.
Neurological examination
Assessment of tremor quality and pattern, movement speed, limb rigidity, facial expression, walking pattern, and balance reflexes.
Levodopa challenge test
A dose of levodopa is given and movement is assessed over subsequent hours. A meaningful improvement strongly indicates Parkinson's Disease.
Brain MRI
Rules out other causes of similar symptoms — brain tumour, stroke, or normal pressure hydrocephalus.
DaTscan
A specialised nuclear medicine scan showing the dopamine system's function. Confirms the diagnosis and distinguishes Parkinson's from Essential Tremor.
Neuropsychological assessment
Baseline cognitive testing to track changes over time and guide treatment decisions, including suitability for Deep Brain Stimulation.
Smell testing
A simple, quick, inexpensive assessment that supports the clinical picture.
Treatment
How Is Parkinson's Disease Treated?
Parkinson's cannot currently be cured — but it is one of the most treatable neurological conditions we see. With the right combination of medication, physical therapy, and advanced surgical treatment, most people maintain a good quality of life for many years.
Levodopa (Carbidopa-Levodopa)
The most effective medication for Parkinson's. Replaces the dopamine the brain is no longer producing. Supplemented by dopamine agonists, MAO-B inhibitors, COMT inhibitors, and amantadine as the disease evolves.
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
A thin electrode placed in a specific brain target is connected to a pacemaker-like device. The continuous electrical signal smooths motor fluctuations and restores consistent movement control. KIMS Neuroscience performs DBS at KIMS.
MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS)
Focused sound waves guided by live MRI permanently disrupt the tremor circuit — no incision, no general anaesthetic, no implant. Most patients go home the same day. KIMS is the only centre in Telangana and AP offering this.
LSVT BIG Physiotherapy
Specialist physiotherapy programme proven to slow functional decline in Parkinson's. Should begin at diagnosis, not when things get difficult.
LSVT LOUD Speech Therapy
Addresses the quiet, monotone voice that develops in many Parkinson's patients. Early referral gives the best results.
When Should You See a Parkinson's Specialist?
See a specialist at KIMS Neuroscience if you or a family member notices any of the following. The earlier Parkinson's is diagnosed, the earlier the right treatment starts — and the better the outcomes. You do not need a referral to book an assessment.
A tremor in one hand or arm — particularly when the hand is at rest
Significant slowing down of movement compared to a year or two ago
Stiffness or unexplained aching, particularly in one shoulder or arm
Changes in walking — a shuffle, reduced arm swing, or smaller steps
Handwriting that has become noticeably smaller and more cramped
A loss of the sense of smell that has persisted for months with no obvious cause
Physically acting out dreams during sleep
A voice that has become softer or harder to hear
What to Expect — Living with Parkinson's Disease
The honest picture of Parkinson's Disease is this: it is progressive, but its pace varies enormously between individuals. Some progress slowly over many years; others more quickly. The right treatment makes a real difference to that trajectory.
The early years — particularly with well-managed medication — are often manageable. Most people continue working, driving, and living independently. Motor complications typically develop after several years of levodopa, and this is when the treatment plan needs to evolve — often towards DBS or other interventions.
Patients who would previously have been largely disabled by tremors are walking out of KIMS Neuroscience the day after MRgFUS. Patients who could barely get out of a chair during OFF periods are living independently years after DBS. Parkinson's is not what it used to be — and the team at KIMS, Hyderabad is part of the reason why.
Related Conditions
Parkinson's belongs to a broader family of neurodegenerative movement disorders:
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Concerned about Parkinson's symptoms?
Speak to the KIMS Neuroscience Movement Disorders team today. No referral required.
International enquiries: info@kimsneurosciences.com