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

• 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.

Keyword

Parkinson's disease

L-dopa

weight loss

body fat mass

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)