I n 1967 before levodopa, L-dopa, Parkinson disease shortened life. A person diagnosed with Parkinson disease, depending on age, could expect to live 3 years less than a person without Parkinson disease. Parkinson disease, by itself, does not result in death. But Parkinson disease, a progressive and debilitating disease, caused people to become immobile, bed-confined, weakened their resistance to infections, and ultimately led to death, usually by pneumonia.
Patients remain mobile-for much longer periods of time.
And patients who are mobile, who can walk, are more likely to resist pneumonia. Several studies suggest that the life-expectancy of a Parkinson patient, at a given age, is now similar to someone without Parkinson disease. Most Parkinson doctors tell their patients they can expect to have a normal life-span. The following article, recently published in the Archives of Neurology, from a respected group, challenges the claim that Parkinson disease doesn't shorten life. The causes of death in the 2 groups were also compared.