Parkinson’s disease in the elderly.

• Parkinson’s disease in elderly is very common but can be treated and managed successfully with holistic multidisciplinary medical care.

• Symptoms of Parkinson's disease in elderly depend on the stage of the disease.

• Progression of Parkinson's disease in the elderly leads to more severe symptoms.

• The early symptoms of Parkinson's in elderly are slowing up, flexed posture, taking smaller steps when walking, tendency to shuffle, impaired balance.

• Not all Parkinson’s in elderly have an upper limb tremor.

• Later symptoms of Parkinson's disease in elderly include-

  • postural hypotension- low standing blood pressure and dizziness.

  • swallowing incoordination and risk of silent aspiration/chest infections.

  • confusion with hallucinations.

  • unstable irritable bladder with urinary incontinence.

  • Constipation

  • Freezing in doorways and with change in direction- feet just get stuck on the floor.

  • very small writing- micrographia.

  • difficulty doing up buttons and other fine motor hand skills.

  • very soft voice.

  • severe walking and balance problems.

  • falls.

  • difficulty getting out of a chair.

• Parkinson's drug side effects in elderly can be similar to the disease symptoms but generally much more severe such as-

  • postural hypotension- low standing BP.

  • dystonia- involuntary muscle movements

  • restless muscles.

  • confusion with hallucinations.

  • constipation.

• The more Parkinson drugs and the high the doses the more likely the elderly Parkinson’s patient will suffer side-effects such as confusion and falls.

For more information read Dr Peter Lipski’s book “Your Elderly Parents Failing Health. Is It Ageing Or A Treatable Condition”.