Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCopingNext in Parkinson’s Disease GuideParkinson’s Disease Facts and Statistics: What You Need to Know

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prognosis

Coping

Next in Parkinson’s Disease Guide

APD usually occurs after 10 years of living with Parkinson’s, but can occur much later.Patients in this stage may require a wheelchair or other assistive devices, and they have a higher risk of falling, dementia, and other cognitive problems.

This article will discuss the symptoms, treatment, and prognosis for advanced Parkinson’s disease.

Verywell / Nez Riaz

Advanced Parkinson’s Treatment and Coping Strategies

Advanced Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms

Parkinson’s disease typically progresses infive stages. In the first three stages,symptoms are mild to moderateand less limiting to daily life. These include:

In the final two stages, when the disease has progressed to advanced Parkinson’s, the symptoms become more severe and limiting. These include:

Parkinson’s disease occurs when cells that producedopamine(a neurotransmitter—or chemical messenger—in the brain) die and create a deficiency. Because dopamine helps communicate body movement, a deficiency can cause the movement issues that are associated with Parkinson’s.

Advanced Parkinson’s develops when treatments stop working or are no longer effective.

Risk FactorsThe largest risk factor for developing Parkinson’s is age. People over the age of 60 are more likely to develop Parkinson’s. Men are more likely to develop the disease than women.

Risk Factors

The largest risk factor for developing Parkinson’s is age. People over the age of 60 are more likely to develop Parkinson’s. Men are more likely to develop the disease than women.

Then they will perform a series of neurological exams to test reflexes, coordination, and movement.They may also order blood tests to test for toxins.

Medical imaging tests, such as anMRI, may be used to look at the brain and rule out other conditions.

Once diagnosed with Parkinson’s, your physician will follow the course of your disease. As symptoms progress and you reach the late stages of the disease, you may be diagnosed with advanced Parkinson’s and your treatment plan will change.

What Is Parkinson’s Disease?

Treating advanced Parkinson’s diseaseis tailored to the individual, because symptoms become more severe and quite complex.

Medications that are used to treat Parkinson’s focus on thedopaminechemicals in the brain. These have been shown to help with tremors and other symptoms that affect movement. While these dopamine therapies are used for as long as possible, they start to lose their effectiveness over time and may need to be adjusted for patients with APD.

More invasive treatments that can be used to treat symptoms of APD include:

Physical, occupational, and exercise therapy may all be used to help patients stand, move, and reduce the risk of falling.

Medications may be prescribed to treat dementia, hallucinations, or psychosis that can occur in APD.

Depression and Parkinson’s DiseaseDepression is commonin people with Parkinson’s disease, occurring in about 40% to 50% of patients.Depression can worsen when the disease becomes more advanced and treatment becomes less effective. Mental health counseling and treatment options are available to help people living with APD. Seek help if you or a loved one is experiencing depression with their Parkinson’s.

Depression and Parkinson’s Disease

Depression is commonin people with Parkinson’s disease, occurring in about 40% to 50% of patients.Depression can worsen when the disease becomes more advanced and treatment becomes less effective. Mental health counseling and treatment options are available to help people living with APD. Seek help if you or a loved one is experiencing depression with their Parkinson’s.

Though Parkinson’s is a slowly progressive disease, there are many treatment options to help maintain a good quality of life for as long as possible. The average life expectancy for someone with Parkinson’s is about the same as for someone who does not have the disease.

Having advanced Parkinson’s disease, however, does mean that the disorder has progressed. Symptoms in APD will make it difficult to live a fully independent life, and the prognosis becomes less positive once it has advanced.

While you may have adjusted to life with Parkinson’s, this later stage may present its own set of challenges. Learning to cope with the emotional and physical changes that come with APD may take some time and require outside help.

If you or a loved one isliving with advanced Parkinson’s disease, you may need the support of professionals such as home nurses or a nursing care facility. Surrounding yourself with a team of healthcare professionals and counselors can help you cope with the disease and improve your quality of life.

A Word From Verywell

Living with a chronic illness that has progressed to an advanced stage can be overwhelming for you and your loved ones. Seeking guidance from trusted healthcare professionals can help you cope with the changes to your health and independence.

You may also find that support groups can help you feel less alone. TheParkinson’s Foundationoffers resources and support for those living with Parkinson’s.

8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Luquin MR, Kulisevsky J, Martinez-Martin P, Mir P, Tolosa ES.Consensus on the definition of advanced Parkinson’s disease: a neurologists-based Delphi study (CEPA study).Parkinsons Dis. 2017;2017:4047392. doi:10.1155/2017/4047392Varanese S, Birnbaum Z, Rossi R, Di Rocco A.Treatment of advanced Parkinson’s disease.Parkinsons Dis. 2011;2010:480260. doi:10.4061/2010/480260Parkinson’s Foundation.Stages of Parkinson’s.Cleveland Clinic.Parkinson’s disease.Parkinson’s Foundation.Environmental factors.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Parkinson’s disease risk factors and causes.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Parkinson’s disease: hope through research.Marsh L.Depression and Parkinson’s disease: current knowledge.Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2013;13(12):409. doi:10.1007/s11910-013-0409-5

8 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Luquin MR, Kulisevsky J, Martinez-Martin P, Mir P, Tolosa ES.Consensus on the definition of advanced Parkinson’s disease: a neurologists-based Delphi study (CEPA study).Parkinsons Dis. 2017;2017:4047392. doi:10.1155/2017/4047392Varanese S, Birnbaum Z, Rossi R, Di Rocco A.Treatment of advanced Parkinson’s disease.Parkinsons Dis. 2011;2010:480260. doi:10.4061/2010/480260Parkinson’s Foundation.Stages of Parkinson’s.Cleveland Clinic.Parkinson’s disease.Parkinson’s Foundation.Environmental factors.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Parkinson’s disease risk factors and causes.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Parkinson’s disease: hope through research.Marsh L.Depression and Parkinson’s disease: current knowledge.Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2013;13(12):409. doi:10.1007/s11910-013-0409-5

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Luquin MR, Kulisevsky J, Martinez-Martin P, Mir P, Tolosa ES.Consensus on the definition of advanced Parkinson’s disease: a neurologists-based Delphi study (CEPA study).Parkinsons Dis. 2017;2017:4047392. doi:10.1155/2017/4047392Varanese S, Birnbaum Z, Rossi R, Di Rocco A.Treatment of advanced Parkinson’s disease.Parkinsons Dis. 2011;2010:480260. doi:10.4061/2010/480260Parkinson’s Foundation.Stages of Parkinson’s.Cleveland Clinic.Parkinson’s disease.Parkinson’s Foundation.Environmental factors.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Parkinson’s disease risk factors and causes.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Parkinson’s disease: hope through research.Marsh L.Depression and Parkinson’s disease: current knowledge.Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2013;13(12):409. doi:10.1007/s11910-013-0409-5

Luquin MR, Kulisevsky J, Martinez-Martin P, Mir P, Tolosa ES.Consensus on the definition of advanced Parkinson’s disease: a neurologists-based Delphi study (CEPA study).Parkinsons Dis. 2017;2017:4047392. doi:10.1155/2017/4047392

Varanese S, Birnbaum Z, Rossi R, Di Rocco A.Treatment of advanced Parkinson’s disease.Parkinsons Dis. 2011;2010:480260. doi:10.4061/2010/480260

Parkinson’s Foundation.Stages of Parkinson’s.

Cleveland Clinic.Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s Foundation.Environmental factors.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Parkinson’s disease risk factors and causes.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Parkinson’s disease: hope through research.

Marsh L.Depression and Parkinson’s disease: current knowledge.Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2013;13(12):409. doi:10.1007/s11910-013-0409-5

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