Does Parkinson’s Lead To Dementia

Can Parkinsons Disease Make You Aggressive

Parkinsons disease Dementia or PD Dementia can make a patient very aggressive. Parkinsons Dementia Aggression germinating from Parkinsons disease Dementia can lead patients to behave erratically, experience sudden anger outbursts, feel constantly irritated, and always be in a state of restlessness. Outbursts are generally in the form of:

• Shouting

• Falling

Treating Parkinsons Disease Dementia

A treatment plan for PDD typically includes medications that boost the brains level of certain neurotransmitters and help improve memory and processing speed, Dr. Petrossian says. Exercise is also an important part of the treatment planDr. Petrossian recommends skill-based activities like boxing or dance to boost cognitive function as well as fitness. PDD symptoms should be monitored long-term by a neurologist, and in some cases a psychiatrist, says Dr. Okun. In many cases, physical, occupational, speech, and social work therapy can also be useful since PPD affects all aspects of life.

How Is Parkinsons Disease Dementia Different From Alzheimers Disease

Parkinsons disease Dementia must not be confused with Alzheimers disease. Dementia is a hallmark feature of Alzheimers whereas a patient may not necessarily contract Dementia if he happens to contract Parkinsons. Having mentioned that, Dementia does have a greater social and occupational impact on the functioning of people when it affects someone with Parkinsons as compared to Alzheimers.

This is due to the combination of motor and cognitive impairments. Parkinsons directly affects problem-solving functions in a person, besides other aspects such as the speed of thinking, memory, and mood. Parkinsons Dementia Aggression can also be related to Lewy bodies, where sticky clumps of protein are found in the nerve cells of people diagnosed with Parkinsons.

Finally, it must be known to all those associated with Parkinsons in any capacity, whether be it a patient or a caregiver, that majority of people with Parkinsons may experience some of the other forms of cognitive impairment over time. Though cases vary from person to person, the development of Dementia in those diagnosed with Parkinsons cannot be predicted. To put it in numbers, 30 percent of people with Parkinsons never develop dementia as a part of their progression.

Recommended Reading: What Is The Life Expectancy Of Someone With Parkinson’s Disease

Is There A Test To Diagnose Pd Dementia

There is no single test for PDD. The diagnosis is made clinically. If you or someone you spend time with notices cognitive changes, it is important to discuss them with your care team. If you dont have a care team in place, its important to find a specialist or physician familiar with dementia or geriatric medicine. Call the Parkinson’s Foundation Helpline 1-800-4PD-INFO for a referral.

What Is The Best Way To Communicate With A Person With Pdd

PD-related mood and motor changes can impact communication cognitive changes and Parkinsons disease dementia can further these difficulties.

• It is not usually helpful to try to reason or argue with someone experiencing a hallucination or delusion. Stay calm and be patient. If the person is frightened by the hallucination or delusion, try to redirect their attention to something else.
• You may find acknowledging what the person is seeing, even if you do not see it, can reduce stress.
• Speak slowly and at eye level. Communicate in simple sentences.
• Ask one question at a time and wait for an answer.
• Limit distractions. Turn off the TV or radio before asking a person with PDD to do something.
• Consider causes behind disruptive behavior: the person may be hungry, thirsty, tired, in pain, frustrated, lonely or bored.
• If the person is stuck on an idea, try agreeing with them, then changing the subject.
• Its OK to use humor to diffuse stressful situations but avoid negative humor or sarcasm these can be misunderstood.

Page reviewed by Dr. Jori Fleisher, MSCE, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurological Sciences at Rush University Medical Center, a Parkinsons Foundation Center of Excellence.

You May Like: Is Parkinson’s An Autoimmune Disease

Lewy Body Dementia: A Common Yet Underdiagnosed Dementia

While its not a household word yet, Lewy body dementia is not a rare disease. It affects an estimated 1.4 million individuals and their families in the United States. Because LBD symptoms can closely resemble other more commonly known disorders like Alzheimers disease and Parkinsons, it is often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. In fact, many doctors or other medical professionals still are not familiar with LBD.

What Causes Lewy Body Dementia

The causes of LBD are not yet well understood, but research is ongoing in this area. There are probably multiple factors involved, including genetic and environmental risk factors that combine with natural aging processes to make someone susceptible to LBD.

For more information, visit www.lbda.org.

Modified with permission from the Lewy Body Dementia Association

To learn more about motor symptoms related to Parkinsons, visit here.

To learn more about non-motor symptoms related to Parkinsons, visit here.

You May Like: Cardinal Signs Of Parkinson’s

Dealing With Cognitive Impairments

In some circumstances medications can help to lessen cognitive symptoms. You should speak to your GP or specialist about the options available. There are also various other health professionals who can provide professional support for dealing with cognitive impairments.

Cognitive impairment can be a big challenge for family, friends and carers, as well as those with the symptoms. Some practical tips for dealing with the daily challenges of cognitive impairments include:

• Keep to a daily routine
• Try to use familiar objects and phrases
• Avoid unfamiliar environments

Different Types Of Parkinsons Disease

As Parkinsons begins to take its full effect, the disease can ravage different parts of the brain and cause varying symptoms. The diagnosis of what type of Parkinsons you have depends on this . Sometimes, doctors dont know the exact cause, either, but they know you exhibit symptoms that line up with Parkinsons. Lets dig into the different forms of the wicked disease:

There are other generations of the disease, but they are the most rare forms. Nevertheless, they carry similar symptoms as all other forms of the disease.

Also Check: What Is The Life Expectancy For Someone With Parkinson Disease

Symptoms Of Cognitive Change

The cognitive changes experienced by people with Parkinsons vary from person to person. Possible cognitive symptoms linked with early stage Parkinsons include:

• Difficulty multi-tasking
• Difficulty concentrating and becoming easily distracted
• Difficulty learning new skills
• Difficulty remembering certain things

As Parkinsons progresses these symptoms can worsen and new symptoms might appear. Possible impairments later in the course of the condition might include:

• Difficulty with problem-solving
• Difficulty judging distances and directions

Parkinson’s Disease Dementia Follow

A person with Parkinson’s disease and dementia requires regular checkups with his or her health care professional.

• These checkups allow the health care professional to see how well treatment is working and make adjustments as necessary.
• They allow detection of new problems of cognition, mood, or behavior that could benefit from treatment.
• These visits also give the family caregiver an opportunity to discuss problems in the individual’s care.

Eventually, the person with Parkinson’s disease and dementia will likely become unable to care for himself or herself or even to make decisions about his or her care if the patient lives long enough with Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

• It is best for the person to discuss future care arrangements with family members as early as possible, so that his or her wishes can be clarified and documented for the future.
• A health care professional can advise patients and caregivers about legal arrangements that should be made to ensure that these wishes are observed.

Parkinson’s disease dementia prevention

There is no known way of preventing dementia in Parkinson’s disease. However, patients with Parkinson’s disease are urged to continue to exercise and live a healthy lifestyle as this may delay or reduce the onset of dementia, although there is no good data to indicate this will occur.

Parkinson’s disease dementia prognosis

Read Also: Is Parkinson’s Disease Fatal

Parkinsons Doesnt Always Cause Dementia

While cognitive decline is common in both Alzheimers and Parkinsons, it is less likely to occur in Parkinsons patients. According to studies, only half of those with Parkinsons develop cognitive difficulties. This can range from mild forgetfulness to full-blown dementia.

When dementia does manifest itself with Parkinson, it occurs in the subcortical area of the brain. Alzheimers dementia occurs in the cortical area of the brain. As a result of this, the clinical symptoms of these two dementias can be somewhat different.

Does Parkinsons Lead To Dementia

During the final stage of Parkinsons disease, your symptoms may progress from severe motor function inhibition to memory loss. Generally, any form of memory loss is known as dementia.

There are multiple forms of dementia, such as:

• Alzheimers disease
• Huntingtons disease
• Dementia caused by head trauma
• Dementia caused by alcohol and drug abuse

Parkinsons disease is listed as a form of dementia simply because memory loss occurs in its later stages. Its estimated that memory loss doesnt become a concern until at least 10 years after the initial diagnosis. While memory loss isnt a cardinal symptom of the disease, more than half of Parkinsons patients develop some form of dementia. Like Alzheimers disease, the dementia associated with Parkinsons disease progressively grows worse.

The Alzheimers Association says that if dementia does stem from Parkinsons disease, the symptoms are similar to dementia with Lewy bodies. This is because patients start to develop these protein deposits on the parts of their brain that affect movement and cognition, which can then affect memory.

Symptoms of the dementia include:

• Hallucinations
• Difficulty interpreting visual information
• Depression

Recommended Reading: Parkinsons Life Expectancy

How Can We Manage Hallucinations

It may not be necessary to treat all hallucinations of a person with PDD. Hallucinations are often harmless, and it is okay to allow them to happen, as long as they are not disruptive or upsetting to the person or surroundings. Sometimes, recognizing the hallucination and then switching the topic might be an efficient way of handling frustrations that occur because of a hallucination. If hallucinations need medical treatment, your provider may be able to discuss and suggest some options. However, many of the medications used to treat hallucinations may make movement symptoms worse.

Coping With A Parkinsons Diagnosis

A diagnosis of Parkinsons can be a frightening experience for both you and your loved ones. While there is currently no cure, there are treatments available for Parkinsons symptoms and lifestyle changes you can make to slow the progression of the disease and delay the onset of more debilitating symptoms, including Parkinsons disease dementia. Early diagnosis can prolong independence and help you to live life fully for much longer.

If youve been diagnosed with Parkinsons you may feel anger, deep sadness, or fear about what the future will bring. These feelings are all normal. Its also normal to grieve as you deal with this enormous adjustment.

Give yourself some time to adjust. As with any major change in life, dont expect that you will smoothly snap into this new transition. You may feel alright for a while, and then suddenly feel stressed and overwhelmed again. Take time to adjust to this new transition.

Learn all you can about Parkinsons disease and Parkinsons disease dementia. Educating yourself and making important decisions early can help you feel more in control during this difficult time.

Reach out for support. Living with Parkinsons presents many challenges, but there is help available for this journey. The more you reach out to others and get support, the more youll be able to cope with symptoms while continuing to enrich and find meaning in your life.

Also Check: How Long Does It Take For Parkinson’s Disease To Progress

What Are The Parkinson’s Disease Dementia Criteria

Many people with Parkinson’s disease experience cognitive changes , but not all of them develop full-blown dementia. So at what point does Parkinson’s disease cause dementia?

On average, Parkinson’s disease dementia happens about 10 years after a person first starts having movement problems.

“It happens many, many years after someone has developed Parkinson’s,”Lynda Nwabuobi, MD, assistant professor of clinical neurology at Weill Cornell Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Institute, tells Health. “It can be around 10 to 15 years.”

In fact, if someone shows signs of dementia early on in their Parkinson’s diagnosis , it could be that they were misdiagnosed out of the gate. “They might have dementia with Lewy bodies,” Dr. Nwabuobi explains.

Timing is the main factor in Lewy body dementia versus Parkinson’s disease dementia. While the two can look very similar, the dementia symptoms occur before motor symptoms in Lewy body dementia, and in Parkinson’s disease the reverse is true.

“If you look at the brain, it’s difficult to distinguish them,” Dr. Litvan says. “But clinically, they are different.”

What Are The Treatments For Lewy Body Dementia

There is no cure for LBD, but treatments can help with the symptoms:

• Medicines may help with some of the cognitive, movement, and psychiatric symptoms
• Physical therapy can help with movement problems
• Occupational therapy may help find ways to more easily do everyday activities
• Speech therapy may help with swallowing difficulties and trouble speaking loudly and clearly
• Mental health counseling can help people with LBD and their families learn how to manage difficult emotions and behaviors. It can also help them plan for the future.
• Music or art therapy may reduce anxiety and improve well-being

Support groups can also be helpful for people with LBD and their caregivers. Support groups can give emotional and social support. They are also a place where people can share tips about how to deal with day-to-day challenges.

NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

You May Like: Is Parkinson’s Disease Fatal

Stages Of Parkinsons Disease

Because Parkinsons disease develops over time, there are various stages that help identify how symptoms have progressed and what should be expected next.

Generally, doctors follow a set of five stages as outlined below:

Stage 1

The beginning stage of Parkinsons disease sometimes doesnt show any signs at all. If symptoms are noticeable, theyre usually tremors and affect one side of the body. The symptoms usually dont affect your daily routine, but they should be taken seriously and brought to the attention of your doctor, if they havent already.

Stage 2

During this stage, the disease starts to affect your whole body. The tremors and stiffness cause routine activities to take a little longer to complete, and your overall movement starts to be affected. Your posture and facial expressions may should start to change, which can impact your ability to walk at a normal pace or communicate like you used to.

Stage 3

This stage features a worsening of all the symptoms that started to progressively deteriorate in stage 2, but you also start to experience a loss of balance and coordination, as well as how quick your reflexes are. As these symptoms start to come into the fold, people with the disease start to fall more, which can cause their own injuries and debilitations. Activities like getting out of bed, eating, and getting dressed start to get more difficult.

Stage 4

Stage 5

Signs And Symptoms Of Pdd

Common signs and symptoms of Parkinsons disease dementia include:

• Poor memory and concentration

• Depression
• Visual hallucinations

If youve noticed some of the above signs and symptoms in yourself or a loved one, its important to get them checked out. But dont jump to conclusions. People with Parkinsons often experience cognitive changes such as anxiety, lack of motivation, and slowed thinking. These symptoms do not automatically mean dementia.

Also Check: Dyskinesia And Parkinson’s

What Is Parkinsons Disease Dementia

Parkinsons disease dementia is a brain disorder that occurs in somebut not allpeople living with Parkinsons disease. The brain cell damage caused by the disease can lead to a loss of memory and other cognitive functions such as problem solving and speed of thinking. These changes in thinking and behavior can impact your daily living, independence, and relationships.

In those who do develop Parkinsons disease dementia, there is at least one yearand usually 10 to 15 yearsbetween the Parkinsons diagnosis and the onset of dementia. According to estimates by the Alzheimers Association, 50% or more of people with Parkinsons disease eventually experience dementia, although there are a number of risk factors that impact the likelihood of developing symptoms:

• Parkinsons patients who experience hallucinations, excessive daytime sleepiness, and more severe motor control problems are at higher risk for dementia.
• Dementia is more common in people who are older at onset of Parkinsons.
• Dementia is a bigger risk factor in non-tremor predominant Parkinsons.
• Overwhelming stress, cardiovascular disease, and adverse reactions to the Parkinsons disease drug levodopa can also indicate an increased risk for developing dementia.
• Dementia is relatively rare in people who develop Parkinsons before age 50, no matter how long they have had the disease.

Parkinsons And Lewy Body Disease

Lewy body disease occurs when there is an abnormal build up of a protein called alphasynuclein in the brain. Depending on where the proteins accumulate, Lewy body disease can lead to impairments in movement, thinking and behaviour.

Lewy body disease includes three overlapping disorders:

• Dementia with Lewy bodies
• Parkinsons disease dementia

This overlap results in the disease being called a spectrum disease.

In people with Parkinsons a large number of Lewy bodies appear in an area of the brain known as the substantia nigra. This area of the brain is responsible for movement, so the Lewy bodies are likely to cause impairments in movement.

Some people may go on to develop dementia with Lewy bodies. In this form of the disease, the clumps of protein occur in the cortex . This part of the brain is responsible for many cognitive processes, so the Lewy bodies are likely to result in cognitive impairments like those described under the heading above. It can result in symptoms similar to those seen in Alzheimers.

Don’t Miss: Stages Of Parkinson’s Disease Life Expectancy