Researchers have been studying the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease for a long time. This degenerative neurological disorder affects a person’s sensorimotor functions, including thinking, mood, and memory. Loss of control over body movements and tremors in limbs are other signs of the disease. A recent study of old men shows that the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can be identified early in life. According to experts, frequent nightmares can be an early sign of Parkinson’s disease. [1]

Figure 1. Parkinson’s Disease can be Diagnosed among Elder People

Figure 1 shows the study involved 3,818 old men who showed typical brain functioning over 12 years. Researchers found that the men who experienced frequent nightmares were twice as likely to develop Parkinson's. Much of the diagnosis for this study occurred in the first five years of the study. [2]

According to the study published in EClinicalMedicine, elder adults can be screened for the disease by asking them about the content of their dreams. This could help in the early diagnosis of the disease. Usually, Parkinson's is detected only after 60 to 80 percent of dopamine-releasing neurons in the brain stem are damaged. [4]

Neurologist Abidemi Otaiku from the University of Birmingham in the UK said, “Although it can be really beneficial to diagnose Parkinson's disease early, there are very few risk indicators and many of these require expensive hospital tests or are very common and non-specific, such as diabetes.” [4]

Further research in this direction is needed to determine if the study stands. According to one report, nearly a quarter of Parkinson’s patients reported having frequent nightmares. Parkinson’s patients are also more likely to have rapid eye movement sleep disturbances, which can lead to recurring dreams in sleep. During the course of the study, it was also noted that men had more frequent nightmares than women as a symptom of Parkinson’s disease. [3]

References:

1. https://newsofcanada.net/parkinsons-disease-can-be-diagnosed-among-the-elderly-based-on-the-frequent-occurrence-of-nightmares/
2. https://newslogic.in/science/parkinsons-disease-can-be-diagnosed-among-elderly-based-on-frequent-occurrence-of-nightmares/
3. https://news7g.com/parkinsons-disease-can-be-diagnosed-in-the-elderly-based-on-the-frequent-occurrence-of-nightmares/
4. https://gadgets360.com/science/news/frequent-nightmares-early-signs-parkinson-s-disease-elderly-university-of-birmingham-3051786

Cite this article:

Thanusri swetha J (2022), Parkinson’s Disease can be Diagnosed among Elder People, Anatechmaz, pp.153