13-Cognitive disturbances
Patients with Parkinson’s disease usually have some degree of cognitive problems and cognitive decay. This is more than expected because the disease features a loss of neurons and a reduction of brain activity. In advanced stages of the disease, Parkinson patients may develop dementia symptoms, which feature memory problems and learning difficulty. Among the different types of dementia, the most common is Alzheimer’s disease, and it is closely linked with Parkinson’s. It is known that even when the disease starts, there’s a mild decay of cognitive function, but it will be not until 8 years later than these cognitive issues become more severe and noticeable. This is why a careful assessment should be made as soon as possible to give these patients a better quality of life, improve their body functions, and prevent the most feared consequences of Parkinson’s disease.
There is still much to know about Parkinson’s disease, and new drugs and alternative treatments are continuously developing to guarantee a better quality of life in these patients. Thus, even if there’s no known cure for Parkinson just yet, the current treatment protocol has better results than that of previous decades, and more options are currently under active research to bring better options, and hopefully, a cure.
In the meantime, prevention is the key to make your life better, and if you have Parkinson signs and symptoms, the best recommendation is to talk to your doctor and follow his instructions. By doing this, you will be detecting the disease at the earliest time possible, reducing your risk of complications, and improving your quality of life. Even though it may be hard sometimes, and you will get ups and downs throughout the course of the disease, it is possible to live with Parkinson, stay healthy, and feel both happy and fulfilled.