Patient education
DaTscan imaging can help distinguish Parkinsonian syndromes from other movement disorders when symptoms, exam findings, and history need additional clarity.
* Charis Neurology patient education* Lake Mary neurology and diagnostic care* Call (407) 603-1633 with care questions
Patient education
Brain health
Diagnostics
Treatment options
Article
DaTscan is a type of nuclear medicine imaging study that uses a small amount of a radioactive tracer to visualize the brain’s dopamine system. Specifically, it targets the dopamine transporter (DAT), a protein on dopamine-producing nerve terminals in a brain region called the striatum. Using SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) imaging, DaTscan allows neurologists to examine the integrity of the dopaminergic pathways that control movement.
Unlike a standard MRI or CT scan, which show brain structure, DaTscan reveals brain function, specifically, whether the dopamine-producing neurons that are critical to movement are intact or depleted.
Parkinson’s disease develops through the gradual loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the substantia nigra, a region of the brain that plays a central role in coordinating smooth, controlled movement. As dopamine levels fall, patients develop the characteristic features of parkinsonism: tremor at rest, muscle stiffness (rigidity), slowness of movement (bradykinesia), and postural instability.
DaTscan supports the diagnostic process in several key ways:
It is important for patients and families to understand both the power and the limits of DaTscan as a diagnostic tool.
DaTscan can:
DaTscan cannot:
DaTscan is a straightforward, outpatient procedure. The process involves:
The radiation exposure from DaTscan is comparable to other standard diagnostic imaging studies and is considered safe. Most patients return home the same day with no restrictions on activities.
At Charis Neurology, we recommend DaTscan when the clinical diagnosis of parkinsonism is uncertain, or when distinguishing between different movement disorders will meaningfully change the treatment approach. Dr. Makar interprets DaTscan results alongside the full clinical picture, including neurological examination, symptom history, medication response, and other imaging findings, because no single test tells the complete story.
Our goal is always to give patients and families the clearest possible understanding of what is happening in the brain, so that treatment decisions are grounded in accurate, individualized information.
Although Parkinson’s disease remains fundamentally a clinical diagnosis based on careful neurological evaluation, DaTscan serves as a powerful supportive tool. When the clinical picture is unclear, DaTscan can provide the diagnostic clarity that patients and families need to move forward with confidence.
If you or a loved one in Lake Mary, Sanford, or the greater Orlando area are experiencing tremor, stiffness, or changes in movement, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with the movement disorder specialists at Charis Neurology.
Stop waiting. Start healing.
Our team will follow up during business hours. For urgent concerns, please call us directly.
