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Subject: Rapid Changes in PD Charles Kennemore wrote recently about the sudden worsening of his father's PD symptoms since Thanksgiving. My mother, who is 85 and lives in a nursing home in Europe, has also experienced quite sharp changes over a short period. She was diagnosed with PD about a year ago, although we suspect that she had already exhibited mild symptoms of it for quite some time. She has recently become very withdrawn, forgetful, losing mobility, etc. However, it's difficult to say whether this is directly a result of PD changes, since she also had surgery recently for a leg fracture. The after- effects of an anaesthetic can take weeks or months to wear off in elderly folk. However, in her case the situation seems on average to be getting worse - she still has up- and down-days, but the overall condition has deteriorated. I haven't seen her since June, and am relying on friends' and nurses' reports, but I will be visiting her next week, so I should have a better assessment of her condition when I return to cyberspace in January. Best wishes til then! John Murray HCILab, Univ. of Michigan