Late-stage symptoms of Parkinson's disease

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on April 14, 2025
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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
Neurology
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Can Parkinson's disease be cured?

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disease of the nervous system that currently cannot be cured in medicine. It is important to choose the right treatment plan to avoid being deceived. Parkinson's disease is mainly caused by the irreversible death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, resulting in clinical manifestations such as bradykinesia, muscular rigidity, and tremors in limbs. Other non-motor symptoms include reduced sense of smell, constipation, anxiety, depression, and orthostatic hypotension. Treatment primarily focuses on symptomatic relief, and it is not expected to achieve complete remission. Commonly used medications include levodopa, anticholinergics, and activators of levodopa and dopamine receptors. Symptoms in patients usually progressively worsen, and curing the disease is very difficult.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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How does one get Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disease of the nervous system. The actual mechanism of the disease is not very clear, and its fundamental cause has not yet been identified. It is generally believed that Parkinson's disease is mainly caused by the following factors. First, genetic factors. Some cases of Parkinson's disease have a clear familial tendency, where patients may experience mutations in synaptic nuclear protein genes, leading to abnormal aggregation of these proteins. This abnormal aggregation can damage the neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain, leading to Parkinson's disease. Second, there are some external factors related to sporadic cases of Parkinson's. These may be closely related to oxidative stress, trauma, poisoning, or an excessive stress response of the body. However, the specific cause is not very clear. Parkinson's disease, which causes symptoms such as bradykinesia, tremors, and rigidity, requires active treatment to improve the quality of life of the patients.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What department to see for Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease is a very common degenerative neurological disorder in neurology, so if you go for treatment, you should definitely see a neurologist. Many neurologists have a high level of expertise in Parkinson's disease and have extensive experience in its diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment. Patients with Parkinson's disease generally exhibit significant motor slowness, such as dressing, buttoning, wrapping dumplings, and eating very slowly, and they also walk very slowly. In addition, they may also display obvious resting tremors, muscle rigidity, general fatigue, unstable walking posture, and other clinical manifestations. Moreover, they might experience some constipation, anxiety, depression, and reduced sense of smell among other related clinical symptoms. Therefore, for this disease, visiting a neurologist is sufficient, and you can definitely expect a very satisfactory diagnosis and treatment.

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Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
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What is the best way to exercise for Parkinson's disease?

Patients with Parkinson's disease should undergo comprehensive treatment and full management. Drug treatment is the core treatment plan, but it is also necessary to include physical rehabilitation and psychological therapy. For physical therapy, patients should be encouraged to exercise more, as this can help improve symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. The type and intensity of exercise should be chosen based on the patient's motor symptoms. Tai Chi, jogging, brisk walking, and aerobics are all suitable forms of exercise, and it is advisable to exercise four times a week, with each session lasting about 30 minutes. Evidence has shown that Tai Chi can improve patients' balance disorders, and long-term persistence in exercise can help improve their quality of life.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Is Parkinson's disease dangerous?

Parkinson's disease is a chronic condition and a progressive degenerative disorder of the nervous system. The main symptoms include slowed movements, increased muscle tone, resting tremors, and abnormal posture and gait. The onset of the disease is slow and subtly worsens over time. Although not highly dangerous in itself and not directly life-threatening, Parkinson’s disease currently lacks a cure, and the condition gradually worsens. Generally, within about 10 to 20 years, patients may experience significant balance impairments. The main risks involve instability while walking, which can lead to falls and potentially cause fractures and other complications. In later stages, patients often become bedridden, leading to possible complications such as pulmonary infections, urinary tract infections, bedsores, and malnutrition. Therefore, Parkinson's disease is relatively mild, manageable in the early stages, but requires careful attention in later stages to prevent complications and avoid unnecessary harm.