parkinsonism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Technical/Specialist)Formal, Medical/Clinical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “parkinsonism” mean?
A neurological syndrome characterized by tremors, muscle rigidity, slow movement, and impaired balance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A neurological syndrome characterized by tremors, muscle rigidity, slow movement, and impaired balance.
A general term for a set of motor symptoms that resemble those of Parkinson's disease, but which can be caused by various other conditions, medications, or brain injuries, rather than being the idiopathic disease itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage between UK and US English in medical contexts.
Connotations
Clinical, precise; implies a diagnostic consideration of alternative causes.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialist in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “parkinsonism” in a Sentence
The patient presented with parkinsonism.The medication can induce parkinsonism.The neurologist differentiated Parkinson's disease from other forms of parkinsonism.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “parkinsonism” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The antipsychotic was withdrawn as it was the likely cause of the patient's parkinsonism.
- Vascular parkinsonism often presents with a lower-body predominance.
American English
- The neurologist's report noted signs of drug-induced parkinsonism.
- Differentiating between Parkinson's disease and other parkinsonisms is crucial for management.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in medical, neurological, and pharmacological research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Extremely rare; a layperson would typically say 'Parkinson's' or 'Parkinson's-like symptoms'.
Technical
The primary context. Used in clinical neurology, psychiatry, geriatrics, and pharmacology to specify the origin of symptoms.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “parkinsonism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “parkinsonism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “parkinsonism”
- Using 'parkinsonism' interchangeably with 'Parkinson's disease'.
- Misspelling as 'Parkinsonism' (capital 'P' is not standard unless starting a sentence).
- Pronouncing it as /pɑːrˈkɪn.sɒn.ɪ.zəm/ (incorrect stress).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Parkinson's disease is a specific neurodegenerative disorder. Parkinsonism is a broader term for the combination of movement symptoms (tremor, rigidity, etc.) that can be caused by Parkinson's disease OR by other conditions like certain drugs, strokes, or other brain disorders.
It depends on the cause. Drug-induced parkinsonism often resolves when the medication is stopped. Parkinsonism due to neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's itself is managed but not currently cured.
A neurologist, a doctor specializing in brain and nervous system disorders, is the specialist who diagnoses and differentiates the various causes of parkinsonism.
The most common cause is Parkinson's disease itself. Other common causes include certain antipsychotic/anti-nausea drugs, multiple small strokes (vascular parkinsonism), and other neurodegenerative conditions like dementia with Lewy bodies.
A neurological syndrome characterized by tremors, muscle rigidity, slow movement, and impaired balance.
Parkinsonism is usually formal, medical/clinical, academic in register.
Parkinsonism: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpɑː.kɪn.sən.ɪ.zəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpɑːr.kɪn.sən.ɪ.zəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. This is a technical medical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PARKINSONISM: PARK (a place) + IN (inside) + SON (a child) + ISM (a condition). Imagine a child inside a park who is moving very slowly and stiffly, showing the condition.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISEASE IS AN ENTITY (that can be induced or caused). MOTOR CONTROL IS FLUID MOVEMENT (parkinsonism represents a disruption of this fluidity).
Practice
Quiz
What is the key conceptual difference between 'Parkinson's disease' and 'parkinsonism'?