Parkinson's is a progressive condition, meaning that over time the symptoms are going to get worse. Therefore, the first and most critical step in any cure for Parkinson's is finding a treatment that will slow or stop the progression of the condition.
However, some studies have identified cases where Parkinson's disease symptoms disappear. In one study, a 78-year-old man experienced a remission of all symptoms 16 years after his diagnosis. Although full remission is very rare, it can happen in some cases.
Specialized Parkinson's movement and speech therapies, such as the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) BIG and LOUD programs, have also shown potential to lessen symptoms and slow PD progression.
How quickly they get worse varies substantially, perhaps because there may be multiple underlying causes of the disease. In most cases, symptoms change slowly, with substantive progression taking place over the space of many months or years.
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.
Some studies have reported that the average time from onset of Parkinson's to developing dementia is about 10 years. One large study found that about three-quarters of people who live with Parkinson's for more than 10 years will develop dementia.
The timeline for the stages varies but most people go up one stage every two years, except for stage 2 which is five years.
The Role of Exercise
“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.
However, since Parkinson's is a progressive condition, symptoms will worsen over time and new ones may appear. It may progress more quickly in people who are older when the symptoms first begin and less quickly when the main symptom is tremor, especially when it starts on one side.
An acute episode of anxiety or panic attacks can lead to a sudden deterioration of Parkinson's, but once the anxiety is treated the patient's symptoms may return to baseline. Several treatments are available to help people manage symptoms of anxiety.
This mental side of Parkinson's can start with confusion and progress to include hallucinations and dementia. The hallucinations, when coupled with dementia, is certainly one of the most heartbreaking aspects of Parkinson's. “The hallucinations and dementia, and returning to a 2nd childhood.”
According to studies, physical activity is not only a good way to treat patients with Parkinson's disease, it appears to help prevent or delay the onset. Getting the body moving helps build strength, balance, endurance and coordination. It is even better when the heart is involved, like with aerobic exercise.
It should be noted that the life expectancy of Parkinson's disease can be normal or near normal. However, a number of factors can shorten life expectancy. According to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, patients usually live between 10 and 20 years after diagnosis.
Parkinson's disease can't be cured, but medicines can help control the symptoms, often dramatically. In some more advanced cases, surgery may be advised. Your health care team also may recommend lifestyle changes, especially ongoing aerobic exercise.
Available studies have shown that compared with healthy controls, patients with PD are accompanied by high rates of premature death. This is usually caused by factors such as pneumonia and cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases.
In most cases, Parkinson's disease symptoms develop gradually. However, recent studies have noted that some individuals in the advanced stages of this disease can deteriorate suddenly. Typically, an abrupt worsening may occur due to a stroke, as this can also affect movement and balance.
Average Life Expectancy for Seniors with Parkinson's
On average, a person with Parkinson's disease dies at the age of 81, which is equal to national life expectancy rates. Depending on age and location, overall life expectancy is somewhere between the ages of 78 and 81.
Symptoms usually get worse over time, and new ones probably will pop up along the way. Parkinson's doesn't 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.
Biking, running, Tai Chi, yoga, Pilates, dance, weight training, non-contact boxing, qi gong and more are included — all have positive effects on PD symptoms.
These nerve cells die or become impaired, losing the ability to produce an important chemical called dopamine. Studies have shown that symptoms of Parkinson's develop in patients with an 80 percent or greater loss of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra.
Stage I: Symptoms involve one side of the body. Stage 2: Symptoms involve both sides of the body, or the midline (that is, symptoms affect structures in the middle of the body such as speech abnormalities) Stage 3: Symptoms involve both sides of the body, with impairment of balance.
Onset at an older age may be associated with a faster progression rate and the development of cognitive failure. In natural conditions, the average duration of Parkinson's disease is 10 years, although with a considerable range.
Most people with Parkinson's disease have a normal or near-normal life expectancy. Modern medications and treatments mean that people can manage their symptoms and reduce the occurrence or severity of complications, which might otherwise be fatal.
It has been suggested that a higher intake of sugar might increase dopamine (DA) concentration in the brain. Hence, increased sugar consumption in patients with PD can be seen as a form of “self-treatment” [3,11].