[Other symptoms of advanced stage Parkinson's disease]

Autonomic dysfunction, neuropsychiatric problems, axial signs and sleep disorders are common complications of advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). Urinary disturbance due to detrusor hyperreflexia and iatrogenic orthostatic hypotension are prominent dysautonomic signs. Depression and anxiety are frequent but can occur exclusively during off periods. A fronto-sub cortical dementia occurs in 30% of PD patients, but anti-parkinsoniens drugs (APD) can cause hallucinations even in non demented PD patients. Axial signs, such as freezing, postural instabily or dysarthria become doparesistant. Insomnia, REM sleep disorders. At least, pain is very frequent. Exact analysis of these signs is important for an adequate treatement: most of them are improved by APD but some of them, like orthostatic hypotension or hallucinations, are increased by these drugs.