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Twenty
to sixty percent of people with long-standing Parkinson's Disease
become demented. Dementia is more likely in older patients. A
generalized and gradual slowing in thought and action are early
signs of Parkinson's dementia. As in other dementias, memory
difficulties and inability to plan actions are typical. Parkinson's
patients are often depressed, which
confuses the causal picture. In addition, it is not unusual for
Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease
to occur in the same person. The combination of factors
involved--generally advanced age, long-term Parkinsonism, and
concurrent disease processes--make any significant remission
unlikely, and make management rather than treatment the most
promising avenue at present. There is hope that research will
produce preventive and curative measures that ameliorate this bleak
picture. Last updated 12/19/03 |
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