Poor Outcome Associated with Weight Loss in Parkinson Disease and Parkinsonism

Weight loss was more common and more severe in parkinsonian patients and was associated with dementia incidence, dependency, and mortality rate.

Weight loss is a known feature of Parkinson disease (PD) and parkinsonism, but little is known about long-term outcomes associated with declining weight. The Parkinsonism Incidence in North-East Scotland (PINE) study provided a unique opportunity to examine a population-based, prospective, longitudinal cohort that included controls. Researchers performed a mixed-model analysis with clinically significant weight loss defined as >5% decrement from baseline. The authors used Cox regression to examine associations of early sustained weight loss with death, dementia, and dependency in 515 participants: 187 with PD, 88 with atypical parkinsonism, and 240 controls.

Median follow-up was 5 years. PD and atypical parkinsonism cases had lower baseline …

Reviewing Author

Michael S. Okun, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America

Speaker’s BureauMedscape/WebMD CME, Movement Disorders Society CME, American Academy of Neurology CME

RoyaltiesBooks4Patients; Demos; Cambridge; Taylor and Francis; Robert Rose; Public Affairs

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; Parkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America; University of Florida Foundation

Editorial BoardsTremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements; JAMA Neurology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesParkinson’s Foundation (Medical Advisor)