Understanding Weight Loss in Parkinson's Disease: Causes & Management

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder which causes loss of motor function, uncontrollable tremors, rigid muscles, slow movement and problems with balance. Unplanned weight loss is common in Parkinson's disease and is associated with several factors.

Drug Side Effects

• Medications for Parkinson's disease, such as the most frequently prescribed drug, levodopa, can have many side effects which lead to lack of appetite and weight loss. These include constipation, dry mouth, heartburn, nausea and decrease in smell and taste senses.

Avoidance

• Some patients become anxious and avoid eating because they know after-effects such as heartburn will be unpleasant.

Protein-Medication Interaction

• Protein can block levodopa absorption and decrease its effectiveness. This leads some Parkinson's patients to avoid eating protein. A study published in a 1995 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that 23 percent of study participants were restricting food intake for this reason.

Further Considerations

• A total of 40 percent of the patients in the study reported poor appetite (typically associated with depression), anxiety and pain. Feeding difficulties due to rigidity, tremors, involuntary movements, weakness and dementia also were reported in 40 percent of participants.

Weight Loss Risks

• Unplanned weight loss and low body mass index, combined with a tendency for Parkinson's patients to fall, increases the risk of bone fractures, including hip fractures.