While most people think that dementia is only associated with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease also can be accompanied by dementia. In some cases, the disease can impair thinking and reasoning in some patients, although far from everyone will develop this problem. There are ways to mitigate the problem in those who do experience dementia, such as the prescription of medications normally used for Alzheimer’s disease. Causes of Parkinson’s Dementia The brain changes in the PD patient start in an area that play a very important role in how we move. As the brain changes spread over time, they can start to affect various mental functions. These can include your memory and your ability to keep attention. They also can affect judgement and your ability to think through steps to do a task. 
Lewy bodies are affected by PD and dementia. The brain changes that are linked to PD and dementia are tiny, microscopic deposits of alpha-synuclein. This is a protein that is found in much of the brain, but we do not fully understand what its normal function is. The deposits are known as Lewy bodies. These bodies also can be found in several other brain disorders. The evidence suggests that dementia with PD could be linked to the abnormalities that are found in alpha-synculein. Another issue with people with PD who have dementia is that they also have the plaques and tangles in their brains that are usually related to Alzheimer’s. Parkinson’s disease dementia has some of the same symptoms as you see in Alzheimer’s patients:
- Memory changes, difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty in interpreting visual data
- Speech that is muffled
- Delusions and paranoid ideas
- Depression
- Anxiety and irritability
- Sleep disturbances
How PD Dementia Is Diagnosed There is no one test that will determine if you or a loved one has PD dementia. This condition may be diagnosed when you are originally diagnosed with PD based upon movement symptoms. But, the dementia symptoms do not appear until at least a year later. In this case, you would be considered to have PD dementia. Risks and Causes There are certain factors when your PD is first diagnosed that could increase your future risk of dementia. Some of these include older age, more severe motor symptoms, and mild cognitive impairment. Other risk factors of this type of dementia include:
- Hallucinations in someone who does not have dementia symptoms
- High degree of sleepiness in day time
- PD symptom pattern that is known as Postural Instability and Gait Disturbance (PIGD). This can include freezing in mid step, difficulty in starting movement, and shuffling.
PD Supplies for Dining If you or your loved one is suffering from PD and/or PD dementia, there are many affordable products that will make the disease easier to live with. One of the most common issues with the disease is difficulty in eating. Weighted Eating Utensils make it much easier for the patient to eat and to stay healthy. The Keep Warm Dish is helpful for the patient who takes longer to finish a meal.
