Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

I just read a 2012 physician’s guide to non-motor symptoms of PD.  I hope it opens for you here.

Here’s an itemized list from the Table of Contents:

• Drooling
• Olfactory and taste dysfunction
• Choking and swallowing difficulties
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation
• Fecal incontinence
• Bladder dysfunction
• Pain
• Weight loss & weight gain
• Cognitive dysfunction and dementia
• Hallucinations
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Apathy
• Sexual dysfunction
• Orthostatic hypotension (a drop in blood pressure when you get up out of a chair)
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Insomnia
• REM sleep behavior disorder
• Restless leg syndrome
• Leg swelling
• Excessive sweating
• Diplopia and visual abnormalities (Diplobia is double vision – the eyes get tired of focusing together on the same object.  Other issues include impaired color and contrast discrimination)
• Delusions
• Impulse control disorders (including pathological gambling, hypersexuality, binge eating, excessive shopping, and “punding,” which is an excessive repetition of useless tasks)

The booklet suggests possible treatments for each condition.  Many of the treatments are non-pharmacological, meaning you can do them on your own – you don’t need a doctor to write a prescription.

For example, here’s how you can stave off cognitive decline:

• Remain cognitively active.
• Visit my website daily.
• Exercise regularly:  “PD patients who exercise vigorously may improve cognitive scores.”
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Visit my website daily.
• Control vascular risks:  blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol levels.
• Visit my website daily.  (OK, just joking!)

For drooling, “Advise patients that eating chewing gum or a hard candy often decreases drooling by triggering increased spontaneous swallowing movements.”

Check it out!