Parkinson's disease begins by affecting movement, resulting in tremors and shakiness, stiffness, difficulty with walking and muscle control, lack of facial expression and impaired speech. Parkinson's is another disease in which Lewy bodies are found in the brain. Many individuals with Parkinson's develop dementia in later stages of the disease.

Treatment

• There are currently no drugs approved by the FDA specifically to treat the dementia associated with Parkinson's disease.
• There is some evidence that cholinesterase inhibitors may help some individuals.

More information

Medline Plus: Parkinson's Disease
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus
Medline Plus is a consumer health information service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health (NIH). This gateway page from Medline Plus Health Topics links to resources from NIH agencies, major medical centers, and other sources selected by Medline staff.

The National Parkinson Foundation
www.parkinson.org
A nonprofit organization providing information and resources for diagnosed individuals, families and health professionals.