Does Parkinson’s Shorten Your Life

What Is Parkinsons Disease Dementia

Parkinsons disease is an age-related degenerative disorder of certain brain cells. It mainly affects movements of the body, but other problems, including dementia, may occur. It is not considered a hereditary disease, although a genetic link has been identified in a small number of families.

• The most common symptoms of Parkinsons disease are tremor of the hands, arms, jaw, and face rigidity of the trunk and limbs slowness of movement and loss of balance and coordination.
• Other symptoms include shuffling, speaking difficulties, , facial masking , swallowing problems, and stooped posture.
• The symptoms worsen gradually over years.

Depression, anxiety, personality and behavior changes, sleep disturbances, and sexual problems are commonly associated with Parkinsons disease. In many cases, Parkinsons disease does not affect a persons ability to think, reason, learn, or remember .

About 500,000 people in the United States have Parkinsons disease, and about 50,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. The number of those who have some cognitive symptoms is difficult to pinpoint because accurate data are lacking for the following reasons:

Most people have the first symptoms of Parkinsons disease after the age of 60 years, but Parkinsons disease also affects younger people. Early-onset Parkinsons disease strikes people around the age of 40 years, or even earlier.

Definition Of Parkinsons Disease

Parkinsons syndrome is characterized by the clinical triad of rigor, tremor, and akinesia as well as possible postural instability.

Based on etiology, one can further distinguish between idiopathic Parkinsons disease, which is synonymous with Parkinsons disease, and atypical and symptomatic parkinsonism.

Idiopathic Parkinsons disease or Parkinsons disease is considered a diagnosis of exclusion, in the absence of a specific cause.

Symptomatic Parkinsonism, however, is triggered by certain identifiable factors. For example, in the context of intoxication, manganese or lead may cause the disease. Parkinsons syndrome is also triggered by medication, e.g., neuroleptics.

Parkinsons syndrome occurring in the context of other neurodegenerative diseases is referred to as atypical Parkinsonism.

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How Will My Doctor Test For It

Theres no one test for Parkinsons. A lot of its based on your symptoms and health history, but it could take some time to figure it out. Part of the process is ruling out other conditions that look like Parkinsons. The docotor may do a DaT scan, which looks for dopamine in the brain. This can aid in a diagnosis.

Because there is no single test, its very important to go to a doctor who knows a lot about it, early on. Its easy to miss.

If you do have it, your doctor might use whats called the Hoehn and Yahr scale to tell you what stage of the disease youre in. It ranks how severe your symptoms are from 1 to 5, where 5 is the most serious.

The stage can help you get a better feel for where your symptoms fall and what to expect as the disease gets worse. But keep in mind, some people could take up to 20 years to move from mild to more serious symptoms. For others, the change is much faster.

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What Medications And Treatments Are Used

Medication treatments for Parkinsons disease fall into two categories: Direct treatments and symptom treatments. Direct treatments target Parkinsons itself. Symptom treatments only treat certain effects of the disease.

Medications

Medications that treat Parkinsons disease do so in multiple ways. Because of that, drugs that do one or more of the following are most likely:

Several medications treat specific symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Symptoms treated often include the following:

• Erectile and sexual dysfunction.
• Hallucinations and other psychosis symptoms.

Deep brain stimulation

In years past, surgery was an option to intentionally damage and scar a part of your brain that was malfunctioning because of Parkinsons disease. Today, that same effect is possible using deep-brain stimulation, which uses an implanted device to deliver a mild electrical current to those same areas.

The major advantage is that deep-brain stimulation is reversible, while intentional scarring damage is not. This treatment approach is almost always an option in later stages of Parkinson’s disease when levodopa therapy becomes less effective, and in people who have tremor that doesnt seem to respond to the usual medications.

Experimental treatments

Researchers are exploring other possible treatments that could help with Parkinsons disease. While these arent widely available, they do offer hope to people with this condition. Some of the experimental treatment approaches include:

Emotional Psychological And Intellectual Wellbeing

It is important to look after your emotional, psychological and intellectual wellbeing, as well as manage physical symptoms.

We all need to look after ourselves, but if you have Parkinsons this is particularly important as this can not only enhance your quality of life but it may also slow down the progression of some symptoms. There are many simple ways in which you can enhance your general wellbeing as outlined below.

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What Are Parkinsons Disease Dementia Medical Treatment And Medications

There is no specific therapy for dementia in Parkinsons disease. Although cognitive symptoms initially may appear to respond to drugs that promote dopamine production, the improvement is mild and transient in contrast to the early responses to motor control improvement with medication in patients with Parkinsons disease.

Parkinsons disease dementia medications

Various medications are used to treat the movement disorders of Parkinsons disease, some may exacerbate symptoms related to dementia.

• These include dopamine given in the form of levodopa medications known as dopamine agonists that act on the dopamine receptor and medications that slow down the metabolism of dopamine. They are often used in conjunction with monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as rasagiline. In addition, anticholinergic drugs are sometimes used.
• Unfortunately, these drugs may affect cognitive symptoms and mood disorders.
• Anticholinergic drugs, for example, help balance levels of dopamine and acetylcholine, another neurotransmitter, in the brain. These drugs can improve movement disorders but often make memory loss worse.

The dementia of Parkinsons disease may respond to drugs used in patients with Alzheimers disease. However, these drugs, called cholinesterase inhibitors , lead to only small and temporary improvements in cognition.

Mood disorders and psychoses are usually treated with other medication.

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What You Can Expect

Parkinson does follow a broad pattern. While it moves at different paces for different people, changes tend to come on slowly. Symptoms usually get worse over time, and new ones probably will pop up along the way.

Parkinsonâs doesnât always affect how long you live. But it can change your quality of life in a major way. After about 10 years, most people will have at least one major issue, like dementia or a physical disability.

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Myth : Parkinsons Is Only A Motor Condition

Fact: While its true that Parkinsons disease symptoms include shaking and tremor, rigid muscles, slowness of movement, and a frozen or flat expression, its a lot more than that.

Nonmotor symptoms deserve and are getting more attention from doctors and researchers. These symptoms include cognitive impairment or dementia , anxiety and depression, fatigue, sleep problems and more.

For some patients, nonmotor symptoms are more disabling than motor symptoms, which are the focus of treatment. Be sure to talk to your doctor about other issues so you can get all of your symptoms addressed.

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Early Signs Of Parkinsons Disease Dementia

In the beginning, PDD can be subtle. Early on, there may be memory loss and difficulties with daily activities, says Michael S. Okun, M.D., executive director of the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at University of Florida Health in Gainesville. Delusions or hallucinations may also start to happen. Dr. Petrossian points out that there can be an overlap between the early signs of dementia and mild cognitive impairment due to Parkinsons disease, which can make it difficult to learn new skills and recall information or conversations.

How Can I Support Someone With Parkinson’s Towards The End Of Life

In the advanced stages of Parkinsons, your patients care needs may be more complex and require careful planning along with the patient, their family and other health and social care professionals involved.

Palliative care should be holistic, considering the whole person to support the personal, social, psychological and spiritual needs of your patient and their family. It should give your patient some control and choice over areas such as treatment options and where they will be cared for, as well as providing advice and support to all the people involved in their care.

Palliative care in Parkinsons may be supported by a number of professionals, including a Parkinsons nurse specialist, local hospice or specialist palliative care team, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist or dietitian. Many people with Parkinson’s also find complementary therapies beneficial.

It is important that you find out whether the person has a care plan in place regarding their preferences for how the issues surrounding advanced Parkinsons should be managed. This could include legal documentation such as a Lasting Power of Attorney and an advance care plan. Advance care plans include information on what the persons wishes and preferences are for their care in the future. They may include decisions on any treatments the person does not want to have in the future this is called an Advance Directive, Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment or Living Will.

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How Do I Take Care Of Myself

If you have Parkinsons disease, the best thing you can do is follow the guidance of your healthcare provider on how to take care of yourself.

• Take your medication as prescribed. Taking your medications can make a huge difference in the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. You should take your medications as prescribed and talk to your provider if you notice side effects or start to feel like your medications aren’t as effective.
• See your provider as recommended. Your healthcare provider will set up a schedule for you to see them. These visits are especially important to help with managing your conditions and finding the right medications and dosages.
• Dont ignore or avoid symptoms. Parkinsons disease can cause a wide range of symptoms, many of which are treatable by treating the condition or the symptoms themselves. Treatment can make a major difference in keeping symptoms from having worse effects.

What Are The Symptoms Of Parkinson’s Towards The End Of Life

Parkinsons progresses in stages: diagnosis, maintenance, advanced and palliative. Professionals should have talk to people with Parkinsons about advance care planning in the earlier stages of the disease. This can allow them to express their wishes and preferences for their care in the later stages of the disease and make plans for the future.

Although the condition progresses differently and at a different speed for each person, the advanced stage can potentially cover a long period of time.

Problems that affect someone with advanced Parkinsons may include:

• medicines being less effective at managing symptoms than before
• having to take lots of medicines to manage symptoms and side effects
• more off periods when the effects of medication are reduced, and people experience movement fluctuations and involuntary movements
• increased mobility problems and falls
• swallowing difficulties
• less control of their Parkinsons symptoms, which become less predictable

Some of the more advanced symptoms can lead to increased disability and poor health, which can make someone more vulnerable to infection, such as pneumonia. People with Parkinsons most often die because of an infection or another condition, usually caused by Parkinsons.

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Micrographia: Having Small Handwriting

Having small handwriting may seem like an unexpected aspect of Parkinsons, but it is quite common. Many people actually experience this symptom as one of their first signs of PD, years before other movement symptoms arrive. It is literally what the name describes: When you hold a pen or pencil and write on a sheet of paper, your numbers and letters are very small and cramped-looking. It is caused by a lack of dopamine in the part of your brain called the basal ganglia, which helps start and control your movements.25 Without dopamine, the neurons in the basal ganglia cannot communicate with each other to produce smooth, controlled movement.

How Is Parkinson Disease Treated

Parkinson disease can’t be cured. But there are different therapies that can help control symptoms. Many of the medicines used to treat Parkinson disease help to offset the loss of the chemical dopamine in the brain. Most of these medicines help manage symptoms quite successfully.

A procedure called deep brain stimulation may also be used to treat Parkinson disease. It sends electrical impulses into the brain to help control tremors and twitching movements. Some people may need surgery to manage Parkinson disease symptoms. Surgery may involve destroying small areas of brain tissue responsible for the symptoms. However, these surgeries are rarely done since deep brain stimulation is now available.

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Looking After Your Financial And Legal Affairs And Knowing Your Entitlements

Having Parkinsons may affect you financially for a number of reasons, if, for example you have to stop working or need additional care. It is important to plan for your future sooner rather than later in order to compensate for any financial hardships. You may be legally entitled to certain benefits, so speak to your healthcare professionals, local benefit offices or others in the same situation as you for tips and advice.

The Progression Pf Parkinsons Disease

Parkinsons develops differently in each patient. Some deteriorate to the end stage of Parkinsons rapidly, while others remain strong and active for years, and theres no clear explanation for why.

While exercise and physical therapy can slow disease progression, theres no known cure. Even the healthiest patients will eventually decline until the end stage of Parkinsons, when they are left completely dependent on family and caretakers.

For those with loved ones whove been diagnosed with Parkinsons, it helps to know the road ahead. An awareness of whats to come makes it easier to offer help as conditions decline, and ask for help when they become too much to manage alone.

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Survival In Incident Idiopathic Parkinsonism

Clinical characteristics at baseline for the patients with idiopathic parkinsonism are shown in . Survival data from first evaluation to death or end of the study were obtained for all participants . Of the 178 patients with idiopathic parkinsonism, 109 died during follow-up. Seventy-seven of the deaths occurred in the PD group, 12 in the MSA group, and 16 in the PSP group. The 4 patients with unclassifiable parkinsonism likely represent cases of late-onset PD but were excluded from further analyses, as they did not fulfill specific diagnostic criteria. The overall mean age at death was 82.0 years. Deep brain stimulation or pumps for intestinal delivery of levodopa were used or had been used by 12 of the 143 patients with PD.

Kaplan-Meier plots of survival in patients with Parkinson disease in relation to clinical and neurobiological phenotype at baseline . Severe hyposmia is defined by a B-SIT score < 4. All variables were significantly related to survival at the p< 0.001 level except the tremor or PIGD/intermediate variable , which was significant at the p = 0.004 level . B-SIT = Brief Smell Identification Test PIGD = postural imbalance and gait disorder.

Signs Of Parkinsons Disease

In 1817, Dr. James Parkinson published An Essay on the Shaking Palsy describing non-motor, as well as, motor symptoms of the illness that bears his name. Parkinsons is not just a movement disorder, explained Dr. Shprecher. Constipation, impaired sense of smell, and dream enactment can occur years before motor symptoms of Parkinsons. The latter, caused by a condition called REM sleep behavior disorder, is a very strong risk factor for both Parkinsons and dementia . This has prompted us to join a consortium of centers studying REM sleep behavior disorder.

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Advice For Care Partners

Being a care partner can sometimes be challenging, but having a care partner is essential to the well-being of every person with Parkinsons. Here are three areas to focus on as you adjust to your new role as a care partner while maintaining a healthy and supportive relationship with your loved one.

Managing Your Loved Ones Care

Even though care partners do not need special medical training, they play a central role in the medical care of people with PD. Accompany your loved one to doctors appointments, with their permission. You can offer an outside view on how the person with Parkinsons has been doing in the interim since the last visit. You may also recognize new symptoms or subtle changes that the person with Parkinsons doesnt, such as changes in mood or behaviors, withdrawal from social interaction, or speech that has become softer or more monotone.

When you and your care partner attend appointments together, you both hear what the doctor has to say. You can compare notes afterword and together discuss management options offered. And, you can both be clear on the treatment plan.

Keeping track of all the details associated with medical care can be overwhelming. Here are some tips to help:

Parkinsons and Your Relationship

If you feel comfortable doing so, visit a counselor or therapist together or individually to work through the many changes and emotions you are experiencing and to learn how you can have a healthy and supportive relationship.

Caring for Yourself