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Parkinson's Disease and Frailty: A Two-Way Link Across Aging.
Daniel Hernández-Triana1, Salomón Páez-García1, Alexandre Mena2
1Semillero de Neurociencias y Envejecimiento, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|January 10, 2026
Summary
Frailty is common in Parkinson's disease (PD), predicting adverse outcomes and potentially increasing PD risk. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) and exercise interventions show promise for managing frailty in PD patients.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neurology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) and frailty often coexist, potentially linked by shared aging mechanisms.
- Understanding the PD-frailty nexus is crucial due to overlapping symptoms and potential bidirectional interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence on the prevalence, directionality, clinical overlap, and management of frailty in Parkinson's disease.
- To explore the implications of the PD-frailty relationship for patient outcomes and care strategies.
Main Methods:
- A narrative review of epidemiological, cohort, and interventional studies was conducted.
- Studies examined frailty prevalence in PD, PD risk in frail populations, and multimodal intervention trials.
Main Results:
- Frailty affects about one-third of PD patients, increasing with disease progression, and predicts falls, cognitive decline, hospitalization, institutionalization, and mortality.
- Evidence suggests a bidirectional association between frailty and PD risk, not direct causation, with overlapping clinical features complicating diagnosis.
- Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA), exercise (aerobic and resistance), and nutritional strategies improve outcomes, while social determinants and polypharmacy require attention.
Conclusions:
- Frailty is a marker of vulnerability in PD, correlating with adverse outcomes rather than being a direct cause.
- Integrating frailty assessment into PD care can improve prognosis and personalize treatment.
- Future priorities include developing PD-specific frailty tools, implementing CGA, and testing combined exercise-nutrition programs.
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