MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Parkinson’s: More Than Movement
Parkinson’s disease can have a profound effect on mental as well as physical health. Suma Surendranath, Professional Engagement and Education Manager at Parkinson’s UK explains how with a better understanding of how Parkinson’s can affect mental health, you can deliver better care to residents.
When I say Parkinson’s, what image comes to mind? Most probably, you’d think of an older person, possibly with a stooped posture. Maybe you’d notice a tremor in their hands. They might also have a slow shuffling gait which frequently stops and starts or they might be prone to falling. Symptoms most often associated with Parkinson’s are:
• Bradykinesia (or slowness of movement) – this is the most consistent feature of Parkinson’s and generally means that it takes longer to do activities (often leads to fatigue)
• Rigidity – stiffness can affect the ability to start and alter movement (falls may be common) and perform fine motor tasks such as doing up buttons. Facial muscles may also be affected leading to a reduction in facial expressions which can affect communication
• Resting tremor – possibly the most well-known symptom of Parkinson’s however it is only present in 70% of patients at the time of diagnosis. It usually affects one side of the body and while it may decrease with use, it can increase with anxiety or excitement
However, someone with Parkinson’s may also experience problems such as depression, pain, hallucinations, disrupted sleep and constipation as a
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result of the condition. To understand why this may happen, it’s important to understand more about Parkinson’s and how it can affect any of the 127,000 people who are currently living with the condition in the UK.
Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition. While its exact cause is unknown, its symptoms arise due to the degeneration of cells in the brain that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. This is involved in the control and coordination of movement, but it is also plays a role in arousal, motivation, attention and the experience of pleasure. As a result, when dopamine levels fall, this can give rise to problems like depression and apathy making it difficult for people to function.
Dementia is another mental health issue linked to Parkinson’s. People with Parkinson’s are up to six times more likely to develop dementia compared to those without Parkinson’s. The experience of dementia associated with Parkinson’s (known either as Lewy body dementia or Parkinson’s dementia depending on the time of onset) can be quite different from other commonly known dementias such as Alzheimer’s.
Some people may have greater problems with attention and visual hallucinations, but memory might
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“When dopamine levels fall, this can give rise to problems like depression and apathy making it difficult for people to function.”
“People with Parkinson’s are up to six times more likely to develop dementia compared to those without Parkinson’s.”
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