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Substantial Matters: Life & Science of Parkinson’s


Feb 13, 2018

Hallucinations might not be something you associate with Parkinson’s disease (PD), but they are a possibility in PD and can be a big problem, especially as the disease progresses. Visual hallucinations are the most common, but auditory and other sensory hallucinations also may occur. At first, it may be easy to distinguish the hallucinations from reality, but over time they can become more distressing for the person with Parkinson’s and their family, as well as a challenge for medication management. Some hallucinations are caused by medications to treat PD, so management becomes a balancing act between motor symptom control and hallucinations. Dr. Joseph Quinn, professor of neurology at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, discusses the problem and how people with PD can deal with it.