Weight Loss In Parkinson’s Disease

It is a nervous system disease in which the brain neurotransmitter (dopamine) is not produced in a required quantity. Parkinson’s Disease is characterized by several symptoms like tremor, slowness, fatigue, weight loss, muscle rigidity and dizziness.

Weight Loss:

Weight loss is defined as a decrease in body weight resulting from either voluntary (diet, exercise) or involuntary (illness) circumstances. Weight loss may occur because of malnutrition and any kind of disease as well.

Weight Loss And Parkinson’s Disease:

The weight loss is much more frequent in the patients with Parkinson’s Disease because of low energy intake and increased energy expenditure have been the cause. Anorexia,  Dysphagia and gastrointestinal dysfunction may be the cause of low energy intake. There are other several symptoms that also contribute to weight loss of patients with Parkinson’s Disease like drooling, in this condition a patient is unable to eat properly and take proper diet because of that patient loses weight frequently in a very short time.

Mechanism Of Body Weight In Parkinson’s Disease:  

Body weight is determined by many factors, including genetics, metabolism, environmental components and under physiological homeostatic behavioral adaptations protect weight gain as well as weight loss. The condition of Parkinson’s Disease patients should be seen against this background with additional factors in relation to the severity of the disease and Dopaminergic treatment  Compared to those whose weight remained stable, patients who lost weight had faster worsening of symptoms, the study found. Worsening of symptoms was slowest among patients who gained weight. Rates of survival were similar for all three groups, but that may be because all were in the early stages of the disease, the researchers said. These factors include:

*Perturbation of Hypothalamic metabolic regulation

*Alteration of energy expenditure (EE) through tremor, rigidity, physical activity, including hyperactivity and sleep disorders.

*Alteration in energy intake

Prevalence Of Malnutrition in Parkinson’s Disease:

The analysis of BMI (body Mass Index) in Parkinson’s Disease patients is related to disease activity that how this disease is affecting them and severity of disease. Both fats and mass and lean body mass were reported to be reduced in Parkinson’s Disease patients. Patients with Parkinson’s Disease are reported to be at high risk of malnutrition, however, the use of the mini nutritional assessment,  a valid nutrition assessment tool, resulted in malnutrition.

Treatment:

Take a good balanced diet, intake of proper calories, high fiber, low energy expenditure and  take proper medicines to reduce the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.

A non-profit Canadian based worldwide organization about the disease of the nervous system (Parkinson’s) named as World Parkinson’s Program. This organization provides free services for all those needy people who cannot afford. Its extensive non-profit services are providing medications and other healthcare accessories, education clubs and campaigns and medical services around the globe. For more detail visit :