More Attention To Non-motor Manifestations Of Parkinson's Disease

Main Category: Parkinson's Disease
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience
Article Date: 23 Jun 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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An important problem of patients with PD is not related to dopamine deficit. "PD patients suffer not only of motor but also of such non-motor disturbances as sleep disturbances, depression, psychosis, hallucinations or dementia. These disturbances require a precise diagnostic work up and specific, usually non dopaminergic medications." A whole series of studies being presented at the ENS meeting are devoted to this problem area.

This focus is important because non-motor manifestations may represent the first sign of PD, experts at the ENS meeting emphasize. From clinical, neuroimaging and pathological studies, evidence is in fact accumulating suggesting the onset of olfactory dysfunction, dysautonomia, mood and sleep disorders years to decades before the onset of motor manifestations of PD.

"Epidemiological and clinical studies suggest that non-motor symptoms related to Parkinson disease may already occur a decade or two before motor manifestations begin," Professor Bassetti emphasizes. "And the neurodegenerative process could start years before these non motor symptoms make their appearance."

Source
European Neurological Society