Does Parkinsons affect the mind?
Parkinson’s is a neurological, not a mental, disorder. In the majority of cases, it slows the body, not the mind. However, when brain cells are affected by medication, some emotional changes can be expected. Anxiety and depression are very common among people with Parkinson’s and may occur due to seratonin imbalance, a side effect of certain medications. This may eventually lead to loss of memory. Anxiety and depression are difficult to diagnose in patients with Parkinson’s because the symptoms are parallel to those of the disease. Parkinsonians may also suffer from nightmares and vivid dreams that are not a result of the Parkinson’s but instead, the side effects of medications. Parkinson’s medication, which controls production of dopamine, may affect the person’s ability to concentrate, i.e. processing two cognitive tasks simultaneously. Sleep deprivation and depression may also cause difficulty in concentrating. Another side effect of the medication may be occasional mild hallucinati
