A timeline of survival with Parkinson’s disease is highly correlated with age. When certain risk factors are present, the lifespan of a patient can range anywhere from 2 to 37 years from diagnosis. Identifying risk factors that lead to early death can help increase a senior’s life expectancy.

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the brain’s dopamine-producing neurons. The condition normally occurs after age 60 and is thought to be caused by genetic and environmental factors. A cure is currently unavailable, but various treatments can significantly improve symptoms.

What are symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?

At the onset of Parkinson’s disease, symptoms begin slowly. A senior might experience a tremor in one hand, for instance. As the disease progresses, facial expressions become stiff. The senior’s arm may no longer swing when he walks. Speech becomes soft or slurred.

Along with tremors, patients experience slowness in movement. Their steps become shorter or they may drag their feet as they walk. The rigid muscles that occur in seniors with Parkinson’s limit their range of motion. Patients stoop, resulting in impaired posture and balance.

As the disease progresses, affected older adults lose their ability to perform automatic movements, like blinking and smiling. Rather than animated, patients’ speech patterns sound monotone. Handwriting also becomes smaller and more difficult in people who live with Parkinson’s disease.

What is the life expectancy for Parkinson’s patients?

Seniors with Parkinson’s enjoy a fairly normal lifespan than those without the condition. Overall life expectancy hovers between the ages of 78 and 81, with age and location being dependent factors. Older adults who live to 65 have a longer life expectancy at 84 to 86 years.

What is the life expectancy after a Parkinson’s diagnosis?

The age of onset is a determining factor in life expectancy. When symptoms appear between the ages of 40 and 65, the senior’s average life expectancy is reduced from 31 to 21 years. When onset is after age 65, the average life expectancy is reduced from 9 to 5 years.

When the duration of Parkinson’s disease is long, it may be concluded that patients eventually become significantly disabled and are prone to health complications. The actual survival rate of older adults living with Parkinson’s disease differs as a result of several factors.

Parkinson’s disease itself is not fatal. However, symptoms of the condition can cause issues that affect mortality. An older patient’s risk for falls, for instance, increases with the severity of tremors, muscle weakness, and other mobility issues. Bedbound seniors are more at risk for life-threatening blood clots.

Seniors who experience psychotic symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations, also have a higher likelihood of dying earlier than Parkinson’s patients without these symptoms. Taking antipsychotic drugs or drugs for Parkinson’s disease have no adverse effect on a patient’s mortality.

Dementia patients with Parkinson’s are two times more likely to die earlier than people without memory issues. Men are 1.6 times more likely to die sooner from Parkinson’s disease than women. People who score low on movement tests have a higher risk of dying earlier than those who score high.

How do Parkinson’s patients increase their life expectancy?

Living longer with Parkinson’s disease can be partially achieved by preventing or delaying the advancement of movement problems, psychosis, and dementia. Medications slow progression of the disease. New drugs have been developed to treat Parkinson’s disease and older ones are better understood.

1. Parkinson’s Medications

One of the most common drugs for Parkinson’s disease is levodopa, which controls slow movements and rigid body parts. The brain cells change levodopa to a chemical known as dopamine (which Parkinson’s patients don’t have enough of) so that the brain successfully sends signals to move the body.

Amantadine is another commonly prescribed drug for Parkinson’s patients. This drug raises the amount of dopamine in the brain, resulting in the senior experiencing fewer symptoms. Amantadine is generally more helpful for aging adults who live with mild Parkinson’s disease.

New Advances in Parkinson’s Medications

Vyalev has received FDA approval as a groundbreaking treatment for advanced Parkinson’s disease, offering a new hope for patients facing the later stages of the disease. Here are some key details about this treatment:

• Continuous Medication Delivery: Unlike traditional oral medications, Vyalev administers a steady infusion of medication through a pump, similar to insulin delivery for diabetes.
• Improved Symptom Control: Vyalev helps reduce motor fluctuations and provides up to three extra hours of symptom control each day, offering more consistent relief.
• Targeted for Advanced Stages: This treatment is particularly beneficial for patients who haven’t experienced sufficient relief with high doses of oral medications.
• Exciting Step Forward: While Vyalev may take time to become widely available, it represents a significant advancement in Parkinson’s treatment options.

This innovative approach could greatly enhance the quality of life for those living with advanced Parkinson’s, as noted by the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

2. Regular Exercise and Diet

Staying physically active is a recommended way for seniors to prevent or delay the onset of Parkinson’s. Building strength, balance, and coordination helps the blood pump and brain tissue to build up protective mechanisms. Patients with a strong and fit heart live longer.

Exercises that raise the heart rate help neurons in the brain form new connections and maintain old ones—indications that the brain functions better and for a longer period of time. Tai chi, yoga, and Pilates have beneficial effects on seniors living with Parkinson’s disease.

A nutritious diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats is no less important to overall health. Eating healthier and exercising regularly are key components in living longer, both in a senior with Parkinson’s disease and one without it.

3. Home Care

Professional caregivers are also important in helping a Parkinson’s patient move around safely and avoid falling. Mobility assistance is provided so that seniors exercise and complete daily tasks safely. Having a trained professional nearby can ease the worries of Parkinson’s patients.

Incorporating reliable home care into a Parkinson’s patient’s care plan is an important component of their treatment. Assisting Hands Home Care offers quality Parkinson’s care in the comfort and familiarity of the senior’s home. Our support ensures their physical, emotional, and social health.

The mobility assistance our caregivers provide allows seniors to get up from a bed and move around the house safely. We provide transportation to area destinations, like medical offices and senior centers, and accompany the care recipient to promote their stability and confidence.

If the Parkinson’s patient is prescribed medications, Assisting Hands Home Care caregivers offer timely medication reminders. We also make sure the older adult takes the right dose and the right drugs. Our supervision helps keep older adults in medication compliance.

Parkinson’s care from Assisting Hands Home Care is flexible and customizable. We offer a range of care options, from respite care to 24-hour care. Our licensed, bonded, and insured caregivers serve seniors in Westlake, Ohio. Call to schedule a complimentary in-home consult and learn about senior home care at (440) 517-4623.