Parkinson's disease does not directly cause people to die, but the condition can place great strain on the body, and can make some people more vulnerable to serious and life-threatening infections. But with advances in treatment, most people with Parkinson's disease now have a normal or near-normal life expectancy.
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disease, yet most people with PD are capable of living well for many years with a good care management plan.
Parkinson's disease is progressive: It gets worse over time. The primary Parkinson's disease symptoms — tremors, rigid muscles, slow movement (bradykinesia), and difficulty balancing — may be mild at first but will gradually become more intense and debilitating.
As the disease progresses, people may have difficulty walking and talking. They may also have mental and behavioral changes, sleep problems, depression, memory difficulties, and fatigue.
Medication aside, there are many ways people living with Parkinson's disease can improve their health and well-being, preserve physical function, ease symptoms and enhance quality of life. Chief among these are getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, staying hydrated and getting an adequate amount of sleep.
Lots of people with Parkinson's travel – there should be no reason for the condition to stop you from enjoying trips abroad. If you're planning a break for yourself or someone else with Parkinson's, you may just need to do some extra planning to make sure the holiday meets your needs.
Healthy Eating and Regular Exercise: A Powerful Combo
Studies show targeted nutrition may slow Parkinson's advancement. Eating a whole-food, plant-based, Mediterranean-style diet — including fresh vegetables, fruit and berries, nuts, seeds, fish, olive and coconut oils and more — may be linked to slower PD progression.
Don't eat too many sugary foods and drinks as these can negatively impact your immune system. Opt for naturally sweetened food and reduce your sugar intake to manage Parkinson's symptoms. Don't eat too much protein. Consuming lots of beef, fish, or cheese may affect the effectiveness of certain Parkinson's medications.
You will likely be able to drive safely and legally for several years after a Parkinson's diagnosis, depending on your age and general physical condition. However, Parkinson's disease may eventually affect reaction time, ability to handle multiple tasks at once and vision.
As these symptoms progress, walking, talking, swallowing, and completing other simple tasks can become challenging.
Parkinson's disease can't be cured, but medications can help control the symptoms, often dramatically. In some more advanced cases, surgery may be advised. Your health care provider may also recommend lifestyle changes, especially ongoing aerobic exercise.
Some people experience the changes over 20 years or more. Others find the disease progresses more quickly. It is difficult to accurately predict the progression of Parkinson's.
Research shows that up to 40 percent of Parkinson's patients have anxiety. This is greater than the rate in people of the same age who don't have Parkinson's.
It's not known why the loss of nerve cells associated with Parkinson's disease occurs, although research is ongoing to identify potential causes. Currently, it's believed a combination of genetic changes and environmental factors may be responsible for the condition.
Long-term outlook. Parkinson's is not a fatal disease, meaning one does not die from it. Early detection is the key to helping reduce complications that can shorten life expectancy.
Yes. When you are diagnosed with Parkinson's, you must tell the licensing agency (DVLA OR DVA) straight away and talk to your GP, specialist or Parkinson's nurse (if you have one). Having the condition doesn't necessarily mean that your licence will be affected, but you may need to have a medical or driving assessment.
Because the symptoms of Parkinson's vary and often overlap other conditions, it is misdiagnosed up to 30% of the time, Dr. Fernandez says. Misdiagnosis is even more common in the early stages.
Boost Activity. Don't wait until symptoms become more troubling before you try to counteract them with exercise or physical therapy. If you change your life to be more active now, you'll increase your chances of staying active longer.
“Movement, especially exercises that encourage balance and reciprocal patterns [movements that require coordination of both sides of your body], can actually slow progression of the disease,” she says.
The biggest risk factor for developing Parkinson's is advancing age. The average age of onset is 60. Gender. Men are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than women.
Parkinson's disease (PD), like most common disorders, involves interactions between genetic make-up and environmental exposures that are unique to each individual. Caffeinated-coffee consumption may protect some people from developing PD, although not all benefit equally.
While diet won't cure Parkinson's, certain dietary changes — such as consuming more antioxidants, fiber, and magnesium — may help improve symptoms. Exercise may be helpful as well.
Fortunately, there is a better way. FCP Live-In can ensure your loved one receives quality, one-on-one Parkinson's disease care at home, where they already feel comfortable and secure while relieving the burden placed on you and other family caregivers.
You'll need long-term treatment to control your symptoms, and you may eventually have to adapt the way you do simple everyday tasks. Everyone's experience of living with Parkinson's is different, but there are lots of issues and challenges shared by many people living with the condition.