Can Parkinson's disease be cured?

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on May 22, 2025
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Parkinson's disease is a movement disorder, and there are many medications and treatments that can improve the quality of life for patients and alleviate their clinical symptoms. However, from the current medical perspective, it is impossible to achieve a complete cure. Therefore, patients with Parkinson's disease must not be deceived and should seek treatment at accredited hospitals. Currently, treatment for this disease primarily involves pharmacotherapy. There are various medications available, commonly including dopamine receptor agonists, Levodopa-based drugs, as well as some amantadine and anticholinergic drugs. Each drug has its own characteristics and should be chosen based on the patient's condition. Additionally, some patients in the middle or later stages may also undergo deep brain stimulation surgery to improve symptoms. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician and do not medicate blindly.)

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Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
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Initial symptoms of Parkinson's disease

The early symptoms of Parkinson's disease are divided into motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms. The onset of Parkinson's disease is relatively concealed and progresses gradually. The initial symptoms can be tremors, bradykinesia, or rigidity, occurring asymmetrically. It often starts in one upper limb and can initially appear in the lower limbs in a few cases, gradually extending to the limbs on the other side. Non-motor symptoms can occur at any stage of Parkinson's disease, including before motor symptoms arise, such as loss of smell, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, constipation, and depression. These are often precursory symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, but such non-motor symptoms can also appear in other diseases, which can make them difficult to clearly distinguish.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Can Parkinson's disease be cured?

Firstly, it must be noted that Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease which currently cannot be cured. Although Parkinson's disease cannot be cured, there are many methods available to slow the progression of the disease and improve the quality of life for patients. Patients must take medication regularly under the guidance of a doctor. The treatment methods for Parkinson's disease mainly include: First, patients should strengthen their functional training and engage in as much physical activity and exercise as possible, which can help in treating the disease. Second, regular medication is necessary, mainly referring to drugs used for treating Parkinson's disease. These include dopamine receptor agonists, anticholinergic drugs, and Levodopa preparations, all of which can have good effects, but these medications also have certain side effects and require regular follow-up visits at outpatient clinics. (Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a physician.)

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Late-stage symptoms of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is a progressively worsening neurodegenerative disorder of the nervous system, initially manifesting as bradykinesia, resting tremor, and other symptoms. As the disease progresses, the symptoms become increasingly severe. In the later stages, symptoms may include significant postural and gait abnormalities, such as obvious stooping and difficulty starting to walk, a phenomenon known as freezing, and turning around can also be difficult. Additionally, in the late stages, swallowing dysfunction may occur, leading to clinical signs such as coughing while drinking water and articulation disorders. Furthermore, individuals with Parkinson's disease are particularly prone to falling in the later stages due to impaired balance functions.

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Written by Zhang Hui
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How long can someone with Parkinson's disease live?

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disease of the nervous system. It has a slow and inconspicuous onset, and it progresses gradually. The disease itself does not affect the patient's lifespan, as it does not impact the functions of heartbeats or breathing. If treated properly, cared for promptly, medications are taken as prescribed by the doctor, and followed up long-term, patients can survive about twenty years without problems. However, if patients adjust their medications on their own, stop taking their medications without consultation, or receive improper care from family members leading to accidental injuries or complications such as lung infections, then their lifespan can be significantly shortened. Once bedridden, life expectancy may rapidly decline. Therefore, with proper treatment and care, patients with Parkinson's disease can survive for about ten to twenty years. If care and treatment are not managed properly, patients may be threatened by fractures or lung infections, potentially reducing their lifespan to about five to ten years.

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Parkinson's disease skin symptoms

In Parkinson's disease, there are two main types of clinical manifestations. One is motor symptoms associated with damage to the dopaminergic system, and the other is non-motor symptoms related to damage of non-dopaminergic systems. The non-motor symptoms include olfactory dysfunction, sleep disorders, mood disorders, as well as cognitive and psychiatric behavioral disturbances. Additionally, there are dysfunctions of the autonomic nervous system, which manifest in the gastrointestinal tract mainly as constipation, and in the urinary system as urinary incontinence, urinary frequency, urinary retention, and sexual dysfunction. There also occurs orthostatic hypotension, along with changes in the skin. Some patients may experience abnormal increases or decreases in sweating and abnormal secretion of sebum in the facial area, which are specific skin symptoms of Parkinson's disease.