Parkinson's Disease Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Parkinson's Disease, including details on symptoms, treatment, genetics, medication.

Does L-dopa treatment contribute to reduction in body weight in elderly patients with Parkinson's disease?

Pålhagen S, Lorefält B, Carlsson M, Ganowiak W, Toss G, Unosson M, Granérus AK

Division of Neurology, Department of Neuroscience and Locomotion, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. sven.palhagen@neuromedicin.se

OBJECTIVE: Many patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) lose weight also early during the disease. The objective of the study was to investigate possible causative factors for this loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this report, 28 PD patients and 28 age- and sex-matched controls were repeatedly assessed with the focus on body weight, body fat mass, dysphagia, olfaction, physical activity, PD symptomatology and drug treatment. RESULTS: Weight loss was seen in PD patients both before and during L-dopa treatment. CONCLUSION: The underlying disease could play a role, but our results also suggest that L-dopa per se could contribute to the weight loss.

Published 14 December 2004 in Acta Neurol Scand, 111(1): 12-20.
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