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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

Parkinson's Disease Quiz: Test Your Knowledge

Quick, free Parkinson quiz to test your knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Roben BearUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of Parkinson disease quiz elements on a golden yellow background highlighting causes stages symptoms

This Parkinson's disease quiz helps you check what you know about causes, stages, symptoms, and treatment, and see your score right away. If you want to learn more about related topics, try our multiple sclerosis quiz, explore a quick seizure test online, or take a brain health assessment quiz.

What neurotransmitter is primarily deficient in Parkinson's disease?
Acetylcholine
GABA
Dopamine
Serotonin
Parkinson's disease is characterized by the progressive loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to a deficiency of this neurotransmitter. Dopamine depletion disrupts the basal ganglia circuits that regulate motor control. This loss is the primary cause of cardinal motor symptoms such as tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia.
Which of these is a cardinal motor symptom of Parkinson's disease?
Hyperreflexia
Intention tremor
Ataxia
Resting tremor
A resting tremor occurring when muscles are relaxed is one of the four cardinal motor signs of Parkinson's disease. Intention tremor occurs during movement and is more typical of cerebellar disorders. Hyperreflexia and ataxia are not characteristic features of Parkinson's.
Which brain structure is most affected in Parkinson's disease?
Cerebellum
Hippocampus
Substantia nigra
Medulla oblongata
The substantia nigra pars compacta is the primary site of dopaminergic neuron degeneration in Parkinson's disease. Loss of these neurons leads to dopamine deficiency in the striatum. The hippocampus and cerebellum are less directly involved, and the medulla oblongata is not the main site of pathology.
What term describes the stiffness experienced by Parkinson's patients?
Dystonia
Rigidity
Hypotonia
Spasticity
Rigidity refers to increased muscle tone resulting in resistance to passive movement in Parkinson's disease. Spasticity implies velocity-dependent increased tone seen in upper motor neuron lesions. Hypotonia describes low muscle tone, and dystonia refers to sustained muscle contractions causing twisting movements.
What is the typical initial sign of Parkinson's disease?
Cognitive decline
Bilateral bradykinesia
Peripheral neuropathy
Unilateral tremor
Parkinson's disease often begins with a unilateral resting tremor before progressing to bilateral symptoms. Bradykinesia may appear later and is usually bilateral. Cognitive decline and peripheral neuropathy are not common initial signs.
Which protein accumulates in Lewy bodies in Parkinson's disease?
Tau
Beta-amyloid
Huntingtin
Alpha-synuclein
Alpha-synuclein aggregates form Lewy bodies, the pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease. Tau is primarily associated with Alzheimer's and other tauopathies. Beta-amyloid is linked to Alzheimer's, and huntingtin accumulates in Huntington's disease.
What age group is most commonly affected by Parkinson's disease?
Under 20 years old
30-40 years old
Over 60 years old
Teenagers
Parkinson's disease incidence increases with age, and most cases occur in individuals over 60. Early-onset Parkinson's under age 50 is less common. It is very rare in teenagers and young adults.
What does bradykinesia refer to in Parkinson's disease?
Involuntary jerking
Rapid movements
Difficulty speaking
Slowness of movement
Bradykinesia is the hallmark slowness in the initiation and execution of voluntary movements seen in Parkinson's disease. Rapid movements may indicate hyperkinetic disorders. Speech difficulty (dysarthria) and involuntary jerking (myoclonus) are separate phenomena.
Which gene mutation is most commonly linked to familial Parkinson's disease?
PSEN1
LRRK2
APP
PARK7
Mutations in the LRRK2 gene are the most frequent cause of autosomal dominant familial Parkinson's disease. PARK7 (DJ-1) mutations are rarer and cause recessive forms. PSEN1 and APP are associated with Alzheimer's disease, not Parkinson's.
What is the primary purpose of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)?
Measure blood dopamine levels
Assess respiratory function
Evaluate cognitive impairment only
Assess disease severity and progression
The UPDRS is used to quantify the severity and progression of motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease. It includes sections on activities of daily living and motor examination. It does not measure blood dopamine or focus solely on cognition or respiration.
Which imaging technique is used to visualize dopamine transporter activity in Parkinson's patients?
MRI
Standard PET scan
DaTscan
CT scan
DaTscan uses a radiolabeled ligand to image presynaptic dopamine transporter distribution in the striatum, aiding Parkinson's diagnosis. MRI and CT scans assess structural changes but do not quantify dopamine transporter activity. Standard PET scans require specific tracers for dopamine transporters.
Which class of medication is considered first-line for symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease?
Diazepam
Tetrabenazine
Levodopa
Haloperidol
Levodopa remains the most effective symptomatic treatment by replenishing central dopamine. Haloperidol is a dopamine antagonist and would worsen symptoms. Diazepam is an anxiolytic and Tetrabenazine depletes monoamines, not used as first-line therapy.
Which dietary nutrient should be monitored due to interaction with levodopa absorption?
Vitamin C
Protein
Carbohydrate
Fat
High-protein meals can compete with levodopa for transport across the gut and blood - brain barrier, reducing its efficacy. Carbohydrates, fats, and vitamin C have less impact on levodopa absorption. Patients are often advised to time protein intake.
What term describes the acute worsening of symptoms when levodopa effects wear off?
On-off phenomenon
Dyskinesia
Tremor fluctuation
Tardive dyskinesia
The on-off phenomenon refers to unpredictable fluctuations in motor performance as levodopa levels rise and fall. Dyskinesia is involuntary movement often related to peak-dose effects. Tardive dyskinesia is associated with chronic neuroleptic use, and tremor fluctuation is not a standard term.
Which non-motor symptom can precede motor signs in Parkinson's disease?
Bradykinesia
Hyperreflexia
REM sleep behavior disorder
Dystonia
REM sleep behavior disorder, characterized by dream enactment, often precedes motor symptoms by years. Dystonia and bradykinesia are motor signs, and hyperreflexia is not typical in Parkinson's.
Which neural pathway is primarily affected in Parkinson's disease motor deficits?
Reticulospinal tract
Corticospinal tract
Nigrostriatal pathway
Mesolimbic pathway
The nigrostriatal pathway, connecting the substantia nigra to the striatum, is central to motor control and is degenerated in Parkinson's disease. The mesolimbic pathway is linked to reward, while corticospinal and reticulospinal tracts mediate other motor functions.
Which cellular mechanism is most implicated in dopaminergic neuron death in Parkinson's disease?
Mitochondrial dysfunction
Enhanced proteasome function
Increased ATP production
Lysosomal overactivity
Mitochondrial dysfunction leads to energy deficits and oxidative stress contributing to dopaminergic neuron death in Parkinson's disease. Lysosomal and proteasomal pathways are also involved but their dysfunction rather than overactivity underlies pathology. Increased ATP production is not implicated in neurodegeneration.
Which deep brain stimulation target is most commonly used to treat Parkinson's motor symptoms?
Red nucleus
Subthalamic nucleus
Ventral posterolateral nucleus
Globus pallidus externus
The subthalamic nucleus is the preferred DBS target to improve tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia in Parkinson's disease. The globus pallidus internus (not externus) is another target. The red nucleus and ventral posterolateral nucleus are not standard DBS targets for Parkinson's.
On what basis is Braak staging for Parkinson's disease defined?
Extent of cortical atrophy
Progression of Lewy body distribution
Degree of neuronal loss
Levels of cerebrospinal tau
Braak staging categorizes Parkinson's disease by the anatomical distribution of Lewy bodies from brainstem to cortex. It does not directly measure neuronal loss, cortical atrophy, or CSF tau levels.
Which adverse effect is particularly associated with dopamine agonists in Parkinson's disease?
Aplastic anemia
Photosensitivity
Impulse control disorders
Hypothyroidism
Dopamine agonists can induce impulse control disorders such as compulsive gambling or shopping. Aplastic anemia, hypothyroidism, and photosensitivity are not characteristic side effects of these medications.
What is the term for sudden inability to initiate movement in Parkinson's disease?
Chorea
Freezing
Festination
Ataxia
Freezing refers to transient episodes where patients temporarily cannot start walking or performing movements. Festination describes rapid, small-stepped gait. Chorea involves irregular involuntary movements, and ataxia is loss of coordination.
Which cognitive screening tool is more sensitive than MMSE for detecting Parkinson's-related cognitive impairment?
Montreal Sleep Questionnaire
Visual Analogue Scale
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
The MoCA is more sensitive than the MMSE for early detection of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease. The other scales assess pain intensity, anxiety, or sleep, not cognitive function.
Which metal ion accumulation in the substantia nigra is thought to contribute to Parkinson's pathology?
Zinc
Magnesium
Iron
Copper
Excess iron in the substantia nigra catalyzes formation of reactive oxygen species, contributing to neuronal death in Parkinson's disease. Copper and zinc accumulation are implicated in other neurodegenerative conditions, and magnesium is generally neuroprotective.
What ultrastructural feature characterizes Lewy bodies in Parkinson's disease neurons?
Parallel microtubule arrays
Myelin sheath formation
Fibrillar aggregates of alpha-synuclein
Spherical membrane-bound vesicles
Lewy bodies contain fibrillar, filamentous aggregates primarily composed of alpha-synuclein. They are not characterized by membrane-bound vesicles, myelin sheaths, or microtubule structures.
Which selective autophagy pathway is crucial for chaperone-mediated alpha-synuclein clearance in Parkinson's disease?
Endocytosis
Macroautophagy
Chaperone-mediated autophagy
Proteasomal degradation
Chaperone-mediated autophagy specifically recognizes and translocates alpha-synuclein to lysosomes for degradation, and its impairment contributes to Parkinson's pathology. Macroautophagy is less selective, proteasomal degradation handles ubiquitinated proteins, and endocytosis involves extracellular uptake.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Disease Causes -

    Gain insight into the underlying biological mechanisms and risk factors that contribute to Parkinson's disease development.

  2. Identify Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms -

    Recognize both the classic movement-related signs and the lesser-known non-motor features associated with Parkinson's disease trivia.

  3. Describe Disease Progression Stages -

    Learn to differentiate the clinical characteristics of each Parkinson's disease stage, from early onset to advanced phases.

  4. Recall Epidemiology and Risk Factors -

    Memorize key statistics, demographic trends, and genetic or environmental factors linked to Parkinson's disease quiz content.

  5. Differentiate Parkinson's vs. Other Neurological Disorders -

    Distinguish Parkinson's-specific signs from symptoms of other neurological disorders quiz questions.

  6. Evaluate Knowledge Gaps -

    Assess your understanding through interactive neurology quiz questions and pinpoint areas for further study.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Pathophysiology of Dopamine Depletion -

    The core of Parkinson's disease is the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, often exceeding 60% - 80% loss before clinical motor signs appear. This dopamine deficit leads to disrupted signaling in the basal ganglia circuitry, causing the hallmark motor symptoms. Remember that PET scans and postmortem studies from institutions like NIH confirm this critical neuronal loss.

  2. TRAP Mnemonic for Motor Features -

    Use the TRAP mnemonic - Tremor, Rigidity, Akinesia (or bradykinesia), Postural instability - to quickly recall the four cardinal motor signs. For example, if a question in your Parkinson's quiz mentions "pill-rolling," you'll instantly link it to the "T" in TRAP. Clinically, recognizing these features helps differentiate Parkinson's from other movement disorders.

  3. Hoehn and Yahr Staging Scale -

    The Hoehn and Yahr scale grades disease severity from Stage 1 (unilateral involvement) to Stage 5 (wheelchair-bound or bedridden unless aided). For example, Stage 2 shows bilateral symptoms without balance impairment, while Stage 3 adds postural instability. This simple scale, regularly cited in journals like Movement Disorders, is crucial for tracking progression in both studies and quizzes.

  4. Key Pharmacotherapy Principles -

    Levodopa (often combined with carbidopa) remains the gold standard, with typical doses like 25/100 mg three times daily; COMT inhibitors and MAO-B inhibitors extend its effectiveness. For instance, adding entacapone can lengthen 'on' periods by reducing peripheral levodopa breakdown. Knowing these mechanisms and common side effects will give you confidence when tackling pharmacology questions in a neurology quiz.

  5. Non-Motor Symptoms and Screening -

    Beyond movement issues, Parkinson's disease often involves mood disorders, cognitive decline, REM sleep behavior disorder, and autonomic dysfunction. Familiarize yourself with tools like the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) and the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39). Recognizing these facets deepens your understanding and boosts your score on any comprehensive Parkinson's disease trivia or quiz.

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