Parkinson’s symptoms can become more severe over a period of 20 years or even longer. How fast the symptoms intensify varies from person to person. To find out how far the disease has progressed, many doctors use a rating scale called the Hoehn and Yahr Staging of Parkinson’s Disease: While your doctor may be able to tell you how far along you or a loved one is on this scale, how soon you’ll get to the next stage is not predictable. You can expect that as you notice your symptoms worsening, your physical functioning will also start to decline.
Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms of Dementia
Up to one-third of people living with Parkinson’s disease experience dementia, according to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. Problems with dementia may include trouble with memory, attention span, and what is called executive function — the process of making decisions, organizing, managing time, and setting priorities. RELATED: 12 Famous People With Parkinson’s Disease
How Treatment Helps
Medical treatment to help restore the essential neurotransmitter dopamine, and at-home remedies like exercise, can help ease your symptoms. Although Parkinson’s disease has no cure, you can find out if you or a loved one is right for one of hundreds of clinical trials for Parkinson’s disease at the Fox Trial Finder. Tracking your response to treatment helps determine how advanced your condition is. The stages of Parkinson’s treatment generally progress in the following order:
Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms: Life Expectancy
Even though Parkinson’s disease is a serious, progressive condition, it is not considered a fatal illness. People who have Parkinson’s disease usually have the same average life expectancy as people without the disease. But when the disease is in its advanced stages, Parkinson’s symptoms can lead to life-threatening complications, including:
Falls that lead to fractured bonesPneumoniaChoking
Thinking about the progression of Parkinson’s disease can be frightening. But proper treatments can help you live a full, productive life for years to come. And researchers hope to one day find ways to halt the progression of Parkinson’s and restore lost functioning.
