Weight Fluctuations Normal in Patients With Parkinson’s Disease

the Psychiatry Advisor take:

Fluctuations in weight — either up or down — are common in those suffering from Parkinson’s disease and can have a significant impact on quality of life.

Marilena Aiello, PhD, of the International School for Advanced Studies, in Trieste, Italy, and colleagues found that the changes  happen depending on what stage of the disease they are in. Deep brain stimulation, a treatment for Parkinson’s, can also lead to weight gain of up to 25 pounds, they reported in the journal Appetite.

The research was based on existing Parkinson’s studies. They looked at data about the connection between non-motor symptoms, dietary habits, and body weight.

Aiello believes the reason why deep brain stimulation can lead to weight gain is that it may trigger a part of the brain involved in pleasure associated with food. On the other hand, weight loss may be precipitated by depression, cognitive impairment and disturbances to the senses that can impact taste and smell.

“This knowledge is in fact crucial for devising interventions to minimize the effect of the deficits and restore normal weight levels in individuals who are already suffering because of the disease,” Aiello said in a statement.