How to Cope With Parkinson's Disease Dementia

More than a million people in the United States suffer from the progressive disorder Parkinson's disease. The central nervous system disease makes walking and everyday activities difficult. In addition to motor problems, approximately 20 percent of those with Parkinson's suffer from a related dementia. Dementia often strikes during the latter stages of the disorder and is difficult both for the patient and for caregivers.

Instructions

• 1

  Recognize that signs of dementia include confusion, delusions, difficulty remembering and slow thinking processes. Check for other possible causes of dementia, such as depression, an underactive thyroid gland or a Vitamin B-12 deficiency.

• 2

  Evaluate medications. Some medications, particularly the anticholinergic drugs sometimes prescribed for Parkinson's disease, can lead to side effects like hallucinations and behavior problems. If you suspect a medication is the culprit, ask your doctor about alternatives. If none exists and the medication is necessary, make certain it is prescribed at the lowest effective dosage.

• 3

  Discuss treating Parkinson's disease dementia with pharmaceuticals with a specialist in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. While some medication may lead to dementia, others like cholinesterase inhibitors or neuroleptics may improve it in some people.

• 4

  Slow down your speech when talking to someone whom you suspect suffers from dementia. Agitation might not be a symptom of dementia at all, but a result of communication difficulties related to the disease. Allow time for someone to both process what he hears and to form a reply.

• 5

  Start a low-protein diet, which may stabilize problems with dopamine levels. Low levels of dopamine may lead to dementia.

• 6

  Keep medications locked up if confusion is an ongoing problem. A person who is confused might accidentally take multiple doses of medication.

• 7

  Make sure the person wears a medical alert necklace or wrist identification that includes name, emergency telephone number and diagnosis. This is an important precaution since a person suffering from Parkinson's related dementia may not be able to give information.