Shared from parkinsonsnewstoday.com.
People with Parkinson’s disease who live in disadvantaged communities tend to have more severe motor symptoms and greater motor disability, according to a study that shows that social and environmental factors, many of which may be modifiable, can influence the severity of the disease.
“If environmental exposures or other social determinants of health in these communities are worsening [Parkinson’s] motor symptoms, programs to address these at the individual and community levels could improve quality of life, including motor outcomes,” the study’s researchers wrote. The study, “Community Disadvantage Is Associated With More Severe Motor Symptoms in Parkinson Disease,” was published in Neurology Clinical Practice.
Parkinson’s is caused by the progressive degeneration and death of certain nerve cells, which can lead to motor symptoms that include tremor, slowed movement, and difficulty walking. Nonmotor symptoms, such as cognitive impairment, are also common. Other movement disorders may include similar symptoms that are related to various causes. These are collectively referred to as parkinsonism, with those stemming from other conditions called atypical parkinsonism.