Patients may have early response to medication, but fail and become disabled to the point of being wheelchair bound within 5 years. This diagnosis can be made by MRI scanning which would then show atrophy of the brain stem, cerebellum, or basal ganglia. Unfortunately patients with these problems are not candidates for surgical intervention at this time. It likely a result of the altered brain chemistry in Parkinson's. Dementia - Dementia, an acquired, persistent impairment of intellectual function, is not an inevitable development in Parkinson's.
Mental functions affected can include language, memory, emotionality and personality and cognition.
Sleep Disturbances - Sleep problems are common for PD patients. They can have trouble getting to sleep, which may be due to anxiety and levadopa therapy. Fragmented sleep and early morning awakening also are reported. Sleep fragmentation likely is due to the inability to adjust the body because of rigidity and lack of medication. Early morning awakening often is accompanied by cramping of leg and foot muscles related to low levels of medication.