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Parkinson's disease - Management
How do I manage unintended weight loss in people with Parkinson's disease?
- Although unintended weight loss occurs in over 50% of people with Parkinson's disease, other medical causes for weight loss (such as malignancy and endocrine diseases) should also be considered.
- If other medical causes of weight loss can be safely excluded, consider:
- Liaising with the person's Parkinson's disease specialist team to arrange:
- Investigations of swallowing — see Impaired swallowing (dysphagia).
- Review of anti-parkinsonian medications, as weight loss appears to correlate with severity of dyskinesia.
- Referring to a dietitian, and the provision of dietary supplements on the advice of the dietitian.
In depth
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