As the region’s leader in providing care for neurological conditions, Norton Neuroscience Institute is dedicated to offering the most advanced treatments and support for people with Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s usually affects people between the ages of 55 and 75, but it can develop at an earlier age. Nearly 1 million Americans are living with the disease.

While a cure has yet to be found for Parkinson’s, Norton Neuroscience Institute offers the most advanced treatments available to help control your symptoms.

Parkinson’s Symptoms

Parkinson’s disease is difficult to diagnose in its early stages due to mild symptoms and a gradual onset. Typically, the disease initially is diagnosed through symptoms, which may include:

• Difficulty with memory and thought processes
• Impaired balance and coordination, slowness of movement, especially when initiating motion
• Speech problems
• Stiff muscles, tremors (shaking) of the hands, arms, legs and face
• Trouble eating and swallowing

These symptoms are caused by destruction of certain cells in your brain. Messages from the brain telling your body how and when to move are delivered more slowly, leaving you incapable of initiating and controlling movements in a normal way.

Cutting-edge Parkinson’s Disease Treatment at Norton Neuroscience Institute

Treatment for Parkinson’s is directed at relieving symptoms, usually through medication or surgery. Other treatment approaches include general lifestyle modifications, physical therapy, support groups, occupational therapy and speech therapy.

Strides have been made in the past decade that have improved both medications and surgical techniques. At Norton Neuroscience Institute, our physicians offer state-of-the art treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS). During a DBS procedure, our neurosurgeons place a small device inside the chest. The device sends electrical pulses to the brain that alter nerve signals that cause symptoms such as tremors, rigidity and stiffness. With DBS, patients can typically see the motor symptoms improve 50 to 80 percent or even more.

Norton Neuroscience Institute neurosurgeons have advanced training and technology in DBS and are one of the few centers to offer “asleep” DBS in addition to performing the surgery while patients are awake. Having the procedure under general anesthesia is faster and safer.

A consultation with a Norton Neuroscience Institute neurosurgeon and a series of tests are needed to determine if a patient is a candidature for DBS.

Patient Support

In addition to administering expert medical care for patients with Parkinson’s disease, we provide extensive support that includes:

• DBS nurse navigator. As part of our commitment to personalized care, a nurse navigator can help guide patients through their care journey and help to connect them with resources and answer questions.
• Cressman Neurological Center. Cressman Neurological Rehabilitation, located at Norton Medical Plaza 1 – Brownsboro, provides rehabilitation services for patients managing neurological conditions. At Cressman Neurological Rehabilitation, patients have access to some of the most advanced technology and specialized services in one location to help with gait, balance, strength, flexibility, speech, fine motor skills, swallowing, driving, cognition, vision and more.
• Exercise groups. Yoga for Parkinson’s and our semi-annual Parkinson’s golf clinic are specifically tailored to improve balance, maintain flexibility and reduce stress.
• Patient support classes. We offer a variety of classes, including “Parkinson’s Disease: The Basics,” and a recurring “Parkinson’s Wellness Retreat.”

Care That’s Focused on You

It’s part of Norton Neuroscience Institute’s goal to care for the whole person, not just the condition.

• Norton Neuroscience Institute Resource Centers offer ways to improve your access to care, provide valuable information on managing your disease and address your quality of life issues. The Norton Healthcare Foundation funds this important service, so patients don’t need to pay.
• Dedicated patient navigators provide assistance securing transportation to and from Norton Healthcare facilities, schedule follow-up appointments, coordinate prescription assistance, create customized diet plans and provide guidance on disability benefits, housing, financial and employment concerns and more.
• Patients can access support groups, exercise classes and other educational events to connect with others and learn how to make the most of life while managing a neurological condition. 
• Access an on-demand video library of educational content across a variety of condition related topics is available.
• We want to help prevent illness. Get help quitting smoking and learn the signs of stroke.
• Communicate with your provider, manage appointments, refill prescriptions and more anytime from a computer or mobile device with a free MyNortonChart account.

A Louisville Leader in Neurological Care

More patients from Louisville and Southern Indiana seek their neurology and neurosurgery care from Norton Neuroscience Institute’s nationally recognized specialists than any other providers in the area.

Your Norton Neuroscience Institute medical provider has the expertise, experience, diagnostic tools and sophisticated treatments to provide care tailored to your needs.

• More than 75 medical, surgical and research specialists are dedicated to providing innovative care to those with brain, spine and nervous system conditions.
• Advanced, minimally invasive neurosurgery equipment can speed your recovery and minimize pain.
• Multidisciplinary clinics provide easy access to care in one convenient appointment for your neurological condition, with specialists in oncology, cardiology, orthopedics and behavioral health.
• Norton Healthcare’s four adult service hospitals in Louisville are certified by DNV Healthcare, representing the highest level of stroke care.
  • Norton Brownsboro Hospital is recognized as a Comprehensive Stroke Center.
  • Norton Audubon Hospital and Norton Hospital are Primary Stroke Centers.
  • Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital is an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital.
• Norton Neuroscience Institute’s multiple sclerosis (MS) program has been designated a Center for Comprehensive MS Care by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
• The National Association of Epilepsy Centers has recognized Norton Neuroscience Institute as a Level 4 Epilepsy Center, providing the highest level of medical and surgical evaluation and treatment for patients with complex epilepsy.
• Norton Neuroscience Institute Resource Center navigators help educate patients and their families about new diagnoses, available treatments and ways to manage their disease.
• We are listed by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of 100 great neurosurgery and spine programs.