The first signs of Parkinsons disease are a decline in motor and coordination skills.
However, in some cases, Parkinsons disease may also cause a person to develop hallucinations and delusions.
These hallucinations can affect any of their five senses and can be debilitating in severe cases.
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Delusions are false beliefs.
Visual hallucinations are the most common pop in a person with Parkinsons can develop.
Some research reveals that up to 75% of people with Parkinsons disease may developvisual hallucinationsas the disorder progresses.
Visual hallucinations can be common with Parkinsons disease.
Still, its not a typical symptom of Parkinson’s disease.
Symptoms of Parkinsons Hallucinations
A hallucination is anything you perceive with your five senses that arent real.
A hallucination can affect how you see, smell, hear, taste, and feel things.
For instance, a person with visual hallucinations will likely see things that arent there.
Conditions likeschizophrenia,schizoaffective disorder, ormood disorder with psychotic featuresare more commonly linked with hallucinations.
As the disease progresses, the risk of developing hallucinations heightens.
A rare side effect of these medications is hallucinations.
Its essential to note that not everyone who uses these medications experiences this particular side effect.
Comorbid Dementia
Its possible for Parkinsons to co-occur with other conditions, such as dementia.
Treatment for Parkinsons Hallucinations
Treatment for Parkinsons hallucinations depends on what is causing the hallucinations.
Here are treatment approaches considered for the management of Parkinsons hallucinations.
Coping with Parkinsons Hallucinations
Living with hallucinations can be frightening.
It can make you question whats real and whats not.
It can also cause you to develop mental health conditions such asdepressionandanxiety.
Knowing how to manage a hallucinatory episode is crucial as a caretaker of a person with Parkinsons disease.
Instead, provide support.
If they become stressed, try out calming techniques such as deep breathing exercises to help alleviate their stress.
The good news is that this is false.
Getting treatment for Parkinsons hallucinations is crucial as soon as you become aware of it.
Hallucinations can severely affect your quality of life and even shorten your life expectancy when living with Parkinsons disease.
National Institute on Aging.Parkinsons disease: Causes, symptoms, and treatments.
Weil R, Reeves S.Hallucinations in Parkinsons disease: New insights into mechanisms and treatments.ACNR.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves first drug to treat hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinsons disease.