Important Announcements

Nondiscrimination Statement Update

Boston Medical Center Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. BMCHS Provides free aids and services to people with disabilities and free language services to people whose primary language is not English.

To see our full Nondiscrimination Statement, click here.

Campus Construction Update

Starting September 14, we’re closing the Menino building lobby entrance. This, along with the ongoing Yawkey building entrance closure, will help us bring you an even better campus experience that matches the exceptional care you've come to expect. Please enter the Menino and Yawkey buildings through the Moakley building, and make sure to leave extra time to get to your appointment. Thank you for your patience. 

Click here to learn more about our campus redesign. 

Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that disrupts normal function and communication between brain cells. It gets worse over time and mostly affects older adults (and more men than women). Common symptoms are tremor, muscle stiffness, slowness of movement and stooped posture.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive, degenerative condition (meaning it worsens gradually over time) that occurs when neurons in a region of your brain called the substantia nigra are destroyed. When this occurs, a chemical called dopamine that normally allows your body to make smooth, controlled movements is not released by the brain. PD is most common in men and women older than age 50 years, but it can develop in younger people as well. 

Many patients with Parkinson's dsease can benefit from neurosurgical treatment. BMC's Department of the Neurology will work with you and your family to effectively manage your condition and improve your quality of life. We will all work closely with you and your family both before and after a procedure to ensure a smooth transition and provide education on the options for surgical treatments and how they work. Although cure is not possible at this time, our goal is to reduce the severity of your symptoms and the side effects sometimes associated with medication.

Medication is helpful for some Parkinson's Disease patients, while neurosurgical treatment provides a better option for others, enabling medication dosage to be reduced and the severity of medication-related side effects to be diminished. Deep brain stimulation is the most common and most effective neurosurgical operation to treat a variety of movement disorders, including Parkinson's disease. In this procedure, electrodes are placed deep into the brain and through tiny holes in the skull and connected to a power generator, which delivers electricity to the cells. The small generator is usually implanted under your skin beneath your collarbone. The electrical stimulation is often able to relieve symptoms of Parkinson's disease and decrease your reliance on medication.

Departments and Programs Who Treat This Condition

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Neurology

The Neurology Department offers a full spectrum of neurological care for all neurological disorders, from epilepsy to headaches to Alzheimer’s disease. Our robust research program…
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Neurosurgery

We provide comprehensive surgical treatment of the spine for trauma, degenerative conditions, congenital problems, and more. Our surgeons are experts in less invasive surgical tec…
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Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center

Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders require individualized and ongoing care. Our interdisciplinary team of specialists provides comprehensive care to patients with th…
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Functional Neurosurgery

When a neurological disorder disrupts your daily life, our team can provide state-of-the-art treatment and compassionate care to help you get back to your life.