Parkinson's disease dementia

From WikiMD's WELLNESSPEDIA

Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) is a type of dementia that is associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). It is one of the Lewy body dementias, which are characterized by the presence of abnormal deposits of Lewy bodies in the brain.

Overview[edit]

Parkinson's disease initially presents as a movement disorder, but in most cases, it progresses to include dementia and changes in mood and behavior. The signs, symptoms, and cognitive profile of PDD are similar to those of Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Both DLB and PDD are clinically similar once dementia occurs in Parkinson's disease.

Risk Factors[edit]

Parkinson's disease is a significant risk factor for PDD. It accelerates the decline in cognition, leading to PDD.

Symptoms[edit]

The symptoms of PDD are similar to those of DLB. They include cognitive decline, changes in mood and behavior, and movement disorders.

Diagnosis[edit]

The diagnosis of PDD is based on the presence of dementia in a patient with Parkinson's disease. The dementia must be severe enough to interfere with daily activities and must not be attributable to another medical condition.

Treatment[edit]

The treatment of PDD is focused on managing the symptoms. This may include medications to improve cognitive function, physical therapy to manage movement disorders, and psychological therapy to manage changes in mood and behavior.

See Also[edit]