Getting Older with Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination.

The four main symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease include tremors in hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head, muscle stiffness, slowed movement, and impaired balance and coordination. Though there is no treatment for these symptoms, medications, surgery, and therapies can help to relieve them.

Tips for Aging with Parkinson’s Disease

Because there are no treatments for the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, they typically will worsen with age, but by promoting your physical, mental, and emotional wellness, your symptoms may progress at a slower rate. Ways to promote your physical, mental, and emotional wellness include:

Get active and exercise. By being more active, you can work towards improving your mobility, balance, and coordination.

Eat a balanced diet. Making sure your diet consists of grains, vegetables, fruits, and protein-rich foods will help you to increase your fiber intake, which can alleviate constipation and will keep you hydrated, which may reduce the likelihood of muscle cramping.

Improve your sleep. With Parkinson’s Disease your sleep is often disturbed. Finding ways to promote better sleep for yourself can help you feel better in the mornings and give you more energy throughout the day.

Find hobbies that you enjoy and stimulate your mind. Hobbies are a great way to keep your mind active to help with the cognitive and memory changes that come with Parkinson’s Disease.

Build a care team you enjoy and trust. You will spend a lot of time with your care team. Making sure you enjoy their company and trust them is crucial to leading an enjoyable life. Members of your care team may include:

• Movement Disorder Specialist
• Nurse
• Physical Therapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Speech Therapist
• Social Worker
• Pharmacist
• Neuropsychologist
• Neurosurgeon
• Palliative Care Specialist