Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement and motor skills. While there is no cure for Parkinson’s, symptoms can be managed through medication, therapy, exercise, and lifestyle changes. However, certain factors can exacerbate symptoms and cause Parkinson’s to progress more rapidly. In this article, we will examine what worsens Parkinson’s disease and how to avoid or minimize these disease-exacerbating factors.
Stress
Stress is a major factor that can worsen Parkinson’s symptoms. Stress causes the release of cortisol and other hormones that heighten motor deficits, tremors, and rigidity. Stress can also exacerbate non-motor symptoms such as anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and cognitive impairment. Periods of high stress make Parkinson’s more difficult to manage. Finding ways to minimize stress through relaxation techniques, counseling, social support, and lifestyle adjustments can help reduce Parkinson’s progression.
Depression
Depression affects over 50% of people with Parkinson’s and can significantly worsen symptoms. Depression is linked to lower dopamine levels and heightened inflammation, both of which accelerate Parkinson’s progression. The apathy, fatigue, social withdrawal, and lack of motivation caused by depression can also reduce physical activity and therapy compliance, leading to reduced mobility and function. Treating depression with medication, therapy, exercise, and social interaction can alleviate these negative effects on Parkinson’s disease.
Poor Diet
Diet plays a major role in Parkinson’s progression. Diets high in processed foods, sugar, saturated fats, and salt can heighten inflammation and oxidative damage in the brain. These effects exacerbate the death of dopamine-producing neurons, worsening motor and non-motor symptoms. Protein-rich diets with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, fish, and olive oil have been shown to reduce inflammation and slow Parkinson’s progression. Avoiding heavily processed foods may also minimize constipation, a gastrointestinal issue linked to worse outcomes in Parkinson’s.
Inactivity
Lack of physical activity can significantly worsen Parkinson’s symptoms and progression. Inactivity leads to increased stiffness, muscle weakness, tremors, and postural instability. Exercise has been shown to improve motor function, mood, sleep, bowel regulation, and cognition in Parkinson’s patients. Aerobic exercise and strength training can even stimulate dopamine production and neuroplasticity. However, over 60% of Parkinson’s patients lead sedentary lifestyles. Making exercise a part of one’s daily routine is essential to slowing Parkinson’s decline.
Medication Mismanagement
Not following medication regimens as prescribed can exacerbate Parkinson’s. Issues include missing doses, taking extra doses, abruptly stopping medication, or improper timing of doses. This leads to fluctuations in dopamine levels that worsen symptoms and hasten disease progression. Recording doses, using reminders, organizing medications, and seeing one’s doctor regularly helps ensure proper medication management for optimal Parkinson’s control.
Deep Brain Stimulation Issues
For Parkinson’s patients utilizing deep brain stimulation, problems with the DBS device can worsen symptoms. These include electrode misplacement, device malfunctions, battery problems, broken wires, and post-surgical complications like infections. Targeted troubleshooting and adjustments of DBS settings by a programmer optimize therapy delivery and avoid worsening of Parkinson’s disease.
Untreated Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders like insomnia, sleep apnea, and REM behavior disorder are common in Parkinson’s. Lack of restful sleep exacerbates daytime Parkinson’s symptoms like tremors, slowness, and cognitive problems. Sleep disorders also disturb dopamine production during sleep. Treating sleep disorders with CPAP, sleep hygiene, melatonin, or medications improves Parkinson’s symptoms and progression.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Many Parkinson’s patients have low vitamin B12 levels. B12 plays a key role in myelin production, nerve function, and dopamine synthesis. B12 deficiency can accelerate neurodegeneration. Supplementing with B12 shots or high doses of oral B12 helps reduce nerve damage and symptoms in Parkinson’s disease.
Dehydration
Dehydration is common in Parkinson’s due to dysphagia, apathy, and medication side effects. Inadequate hydration increases risk of constipation, confusion, falls, and urinary tract infections – all of which exacerbate Parkinson’s progression. Consuming adequate fluids, water-rich foods, and use of IV fluids in acute illness helps prevent dehydration and worsening of Parkinson’s disease.
Anemia
Up to 60% of Parkinson’s patients develop anemia, which is linked to fatigue, cognitive decline, and worse motor function. Anemia may result from blood loss, vitamin deficiencies, or bone marrow disorders. Treatment with iron supplements, vitamin B12, folic acid, and diet changes can improve anemia and associated Parkinson’s symptoms.
Urinary Tract Infections
UTIs are frequent in Parkinson’s due to bladder dysfunction and immobility. UTIs can cause acute confusion, fever, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances that heighten Parkinson’s impairments. Recurrent UTIs also increase inflammatory cytokines that hasten neurodegeneration. Preventing UTIs through hydration, hygiene, and addressing bladder problems reduces these negative effects on Parkinson’s disease.
Orthostatic Hypotension
Low blood pressure upon standing, called orthostatic hypotension, impacts 30-60% of Parkinson’s patients. Symptoms like dizziness, fainting, and falls upon standing exacerbate mobility impairments and increase risk of injuries. Measures to prevent blood pressure drops – such as compression garments, adequate hydration, and medications – are key to minimizing worsening of Parkinson’s disease.
Malnutrition
Many Parkinson’s patients experience malnutrition and unintended weight loss. Contributing factors include dysphagia, gastrointestinal dysfunction, apathy, depression, and medication side effects. Poor nutrition impairs strength, immunity, cognition, bone health, and worsens neurological function. Close monitoring of weight and nutrition, diet modifications, and supplements prevent malnutrition from accelerating Parkinson’s decline.
Vision Problems
Visual disturbances are common in Parkinson’s, including blurred vision, double vision, and dry eyes. Such impairments increase risk of falls and reduce mobility. Regular ophthalmologic care, prescription eyeglasses, and treatment of dry eyes maintain vision and prevent injury from falls that could worsen Parkinson’s disease.
Joint and Bone Problems
Many Parkinson’s patients develop osteoporosis, kyphosis, and degenerative joint changes that lead to fractures, pain, and mobility impairment. These musculoskeletal issues cause inactivity that hastens Parkinson’s progression. Early screening, physical therapy, assistive devices, fall prevention, and treatment of osteoporosis help minimize these effects on Parkinson’s disease.
Medication Side Effects
Parkinson’s medications, especially levodopa, can cause side effects like dyskinesias and hallucinations that impair function. As Parkinson’s progresses, higher medication doses increase risk of side effects. Preventing and managing side effects through dosage adjustments, adding other medications, therapy, and DBS allows optimal medical control of Parkinson’s symptoms.
Cognitive Impairment
Parkinson’s disease often impairs cognition, including attention, memory, visuospatial skills, and executive function. This exacerbates disability and makes self-care more difficult. Cognitive therapy, cholinesterase inhibitors, exercise, and social engagement help minimize Parkinson’s cognitive decline and its functional impacts.
Social Isolation
Social withdrawal and loneliness are common in Parkinson’s due to depression and disability. Isolation reduces mental stimulation, physical activity, medication compliance, nutrition, and medical care. Increased social interaction, support groups, and home assistance prevent the negative impacts of isolation on Parkinson’s disease.
Tips to Slow Parkinson’s Progression
- Manage stress through relaxation techniques, counseling, and lifestyle changes.
- Treat depression, fatigue, and apathy aggressively.
- Eat a diet high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory foods.
- Exercise regularly with a mix of aerobics, flexibility, and strength training.
- Take Parkinson’s medications strictly as prescribed.
- Work closely with doctors to optimize DBS device function.
- Treat sleep disorders like insomnia, sleep apnea, and REM behavior disorder.
- Supplement with vitamin B12, CoQ10, iron, and magnesium.
- Stay hydrated and monitor for UTI symptoms.
- Wear compression garments and raise head of bed to prevent low blood pressure.
- Monitor weight and nutritional status.
- Get vision and hearing checked annually.
- Consult physical and occupational therapy for joint and bone issues.
- Adjust medications and utilize other therapies to manage side effects.
- Incorporate brain training exercises to improve cognition.
- Join a support group and utilize home health services as needed.
Conclusion
Parkinson’s disease is a complex neurodegenerative disorder influenced by many factors. Stress, depression, poor diet, inactivity, sleep disorders, infections, nutritional deficiencies, vision problems, bone issues, side effects, and isolation can all exacerbate Parkinson’s symptoms and hasten progression. Attention to overall physical and mental health through proper medication use, therapy, exercise, diet, social engagement, and proactive medical care is essential to slowing the advance of Parkinson’s disease.