New Parkinson’s Test Likely to Cut Costs

When we think about medical and diagnostic testing, the first tendency that you probably have is to think of long and expensive procedures. However, this might not always be the case. One new procedure for determining the severity of Parkinson’s disease does not rely on expensive tests at all, but rather the patient’s ability to draw pictures in a clinical setting. Volunteers with Parkinson’s were asked to draw a spiral on a sheet of paper, and the speed with which they completed the task, along with how firmly they pressed down on the paper while drawing, were clues that allowed researchers to gauge how severe the patient’s Parkinson’s symptoms were.

 

This will likely not be a miniscule price, but because no machines or lab work is needed, the overall costs of this type of testing are likely to be a fraction of what other types of tests, like MRIs or CAT scans, currently are. For those that do not have good health insurance, or have no insurance at all, this is very good news. One of the expenses of this testing does come from the fact that it is automated. Doctors are able to use computers and tablets to monitor the drawing and this helps provide a more accurate answer for the severity of the disease. Doctors can use this right in their office to get a feel for new patients and to monitor existing ones.

 

A new evaluative test for Parkinson’s looks like it can save those with the disease time and money.

 

This new breakthrough in the evaluation of Parkinson’s disease came from a team of doctors working out of Australia. It doesn’t mark a cure for the disease, but it does provide an easy and cost effective way to help improve the lives of those that have disease. This has a lot of potential to help those that suffer from Parkinson’s to save money and time.

 

Anyone who has a loved one that is suffering from Parkinson’s disease has already seen the ups and downs that those people who have it face. It is a neurodegenerative disease, and there is no cure for it. Those who have the disease see their symptoms worsen and worsen until they are no longer manageable. There are things that doctors can do to slow down the spreading of the disease, but these are methods that improve the quality of life for those with the disease for a short period of time–not for good.

 

When someone has a disease like Parkinson’s, caring for them is tough. There’s no easy way to see someone that you love and care about struggle to do things that were once second nature to them. Seeing your mother or father have difficulty feeding or dressing themselves is emotionally difficult, and it is physically draining, too. By having a care team that you trust to help your parent get through the day, some of this burden can be lifted from you. It won’t change the fact that your loved one is suffering, but it will ensure that they are getting all of the help that they need to live the best life that they can.

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