Parkinson's Disease: A Collaborative Approach to Addressing Non-Motor Symptoms
Target Audience: Pharmacist, Physician Assistant, Physician
Course Overview
Parkinson's disease (PD) is often identified by its motor symptoms; however, they represent only part of the disease burden. Non-motor symptoms (NMS) are now recognized as central features of PD. These symptoms may occur before motor signs appear, develop alongside them, or progress independently. Non-motor symptoms affect nearly every aspect of daily life, including mood, sleep, memory and thinking, autonomic regulation, pain, and sensory perception. This course focuses on NMS and highlights opportunities for healthcare team members to support patients and contribute to interdisciplinary care.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Recognize non-motor symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease, including those that emerge during the prodromal phase
- Distinguish pharmacologic strategies used to manage non-motor symptoms
- Describe nonpharmacologic interventions that improve non-motor symptoms and promote quality of life
- Identify interdisciplinary opportunities to support recognition, patient education, and referrals
Faculty
- Introduction
- Epidemiology of Non-Motor Symptoms
- Clinical Presentation
- Categories of Non-Motor Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease
- Fluctuations in Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms
- Improving Recognition in Practice
- Pathophysiology of Non-Motor Symptoms
- Diagnosis of PD: The Role of Non-Motor Symptoms
- Non-Motor Symptoms as Diagnostic Features
- Diagnostic Challenges
- Non-Pharmacologic Management of Non-Motor Symptoms
- Physical Therapy and Exercise
- Occupational Therapy
- Speech and Swallowing Support
- Nutrition and Diet
- Mental Health and Cognitive Interventions
- Complementary and Creative Therapies
- Self-Management Strategies
- Coordinating Interdisciplinary Care
- Practical Summary: Managing Non-Motor Symptoms
- Advanced and Emerging Therapies for Non-Motor Symptoms of PD
- Pharmacologic Therapies Targeting Non-Motor Pathways
- Deep Brain Stimulation and Non-Motor Symptoms
- Microbiome and Inflammation-Based Approaches
- Non-Invasive Neuromodulation
- Case Study
- Summary
From May 15, 2026 through May 15, 2029, participants must:
- Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
- Study the section entitled "educational activity"
- Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)
Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.
Faculty Planner Disclosure
The following individuals were involved in developing this activity: Austin Fredrickson, MD, FACP; Kimberly Valenta, MD; Kristina (Tia) Neu, RN; and Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. None of the individuals involved in developing this activity has a conflict of interest or financial relationships related to the subject matter. There are no financial relationships or commercial or financial support relevant to this activity to report or disclose by RxCe.com or any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure
The information provided in this course is general in nature, and it is designed solely to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant's professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals must consult their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization for guidelines, protocols, and procedures to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures, but is for academic purposes only, and this course's limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses is constantly changing. Any person taking this course understands that such a person must make an independent review of medication information before any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only, and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course or course material.
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Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.