Depression, memory loss hit Parkinson's patients
LONDON, Oct 30, 1998 (Reuters) - Depression and memory loss
can be just as debilitating for sufferers of Parkinson's disease as
tremors and involuntary movements, according to a survey
released on Friday.
Nearly four out of five Parkinson's patients who responded
to a pan-European survey said they felt depressed and miserable
and three-quarters also complained of memory loss.
``Parkinson's disease is more than just a series of physical
symptoms and restricted movements. There are also emotional and
psychological aspects of PD that can affect the desire of an
individual to take an active role in life,'' Professor Heiner
Ellgring, of the University of Wuerzburg in Germany, said in a
statement released in London.''
``These emotional and psychological aspects of Parkinson's
disease are often overlooked by doctors when selecting
treatment.''
More than 5,000 people in 11 countries took part in the NOP
survey for the European Parkinson's Disease Association (EPDA)
that was presented at the group's three-day conference in
Barcelona.
Nearly 80 percent of Parkinson's sufferers complained about
tremors which are difficult to control with traditional
medication.
Three-quarters of the respondents had difficulty walking and
72 percent could not balance properly. Ninety-one percent had to
take medication at least three times a day and almost two-thirds
complained of side effects from the drugs.
``There is a real need for doctors to consider new therapies
which will prolong the window of effective treatment for people
with Parkinson's, so that they can continue to participate as
fully as possible in everyday life,'' said Professor Leslie
Findley, the vice president of the UK Parkinson's Disease
Society.
Parkinson's disease is a chronic degenerative brain illness
that affects one in 100 people over the age of 65. There over
more than 1.5 million sufferers in Europe.
^REUTERS@
--
Judith Richards, London, Ontario, Canada
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