The Graeme Robertson memorial lecture, 1983. The long-term prognosis of Parkinson's disease.
Review after more than ten years' treatment shows that Parkinson's disease continues to progress in about 50% of patients. This progression involves mainly gait and equilibrium, but akinesia and speech deteriorate also, though at a slower rate. Organic dementia appears in about 40% of parkinsonian patients, mainly after ten years of treatment. Only 17% of patients enjoy a benign course, mild from the outset and without progression after ten years' treatment.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D010301:Parkinson Disease, Postencephalitic / Q000175:diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques
D010276:Parasympatholytics; D007980:Levodopa