Understanding Cognitive Effects of Parkinson's Disease: Mind, Mood & Memory

Parkinson's disease is characterized by slow movement, body tremors, stiffness, weak facial muscles and lack of balance. Not only does this condition affect motor control, but it also affects a person mentally.

Statistics

• One million people in the United States currently live with Parkinson's disease, according to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.

Cause

• In people with Parkinson's disease, the dopamine-producing cells die, affecting the level of dopamine circulating in a person's brain. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter responsible for smooth, coordinated movement.

Dementia

• According to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation, around 20 percent of people with Parkinson's disease will develop dementia, a slow loss of memory and intellectual functioning. This typically occurs after 70 years of age.

Psychosis

• During the later stages of the disease, Parkinson's patients may also develop psychosis, a mental break from reality. This may be drug-induced, as the doses of medication increase as the disease progresses.

Depression

• Around 50 percent of people with Parkinson's disease also have depression, reports the University of Chicago Medical Center. Physicians may treat this mood disorder with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.