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Dennis,
There are alot of symptoms that can indicate more than just parkinsons and
maybe shy-dragers besides the loss of  autonomic control of blood pressure.
These have to do with bladder and bowel control as well as swallowing, and of
course impotence. Ken's color discrimination
  is almost gone too. However, the biggest difference for us was when the
Aricept helped his dementia so much.In pure PD, it is contraindicated because
it increases acetylcholine that in already in an oversupply in PD. BUT, in
shy-drager, both norepinephrine and acetylcholine are in short supply, so
Aricept should work in theory. In Ken's case, the theory is fact, and he has
regained much of his memory and his ability to speak and be
understood.Interestingly, his PD symptoms have not increased with the aricept
as one might assume. He seems to blink more, walk straighter, and to smile
more. In fact, his face shows more expression than it has in years.
Barbara Smith,CG/Ken/70/17