Mind, Mood & Memory in Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is characterized by slow movement, body tremors, stiffness, weak facial muscles and lack of balance. Not only does this condition affect motor control, but it also affects a person mentally.

Statistics

• One million people in the United States currently live with Parkinson's disease, according to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.

Cause

• In people with Parkinson's disease, the dopamine-producing cells die, affecting the level of dopamine circulating in a person's brain. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter responsible for smooth, coordinated movement.

Dementia

• According to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation, around 20 percent of people with Parkinson's disease will develop dementia, a slow loss of memory and intellectual functioning. This typically occurs after 70 years of age.

Psychosis

• During the later stages of the disease, Parkinson's patients may also develop psychosis, a mental break from reality. This may be drug-induced, as the doses of medication increase as the disease progresses.

Depression

• Around 50 percent of people with Parkinson's disease also have depression, reports the University of Chicago Medical Center. Physicians may treat this mood disorder with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.