As your loved ones enter their golden years, they may be struck by Parkinson’s disease. However, they may also start to suffer from depression too. Learn what Parkinson’s disease is, the symptoms for both Parkinson’s disease and depression, and the causes of depression when someone has Parkinson’s disease.
What Is Parkinson’s Disease?
You may want to know that Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that may affect your loved ones as they enter their golden years. Research shows that if your loved ones develop the disease when they enter their golden years, they would probably start suffering from it at 60 years old.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease and Depression
- Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
If you suspect your loved ones have Parkinson’s disease, you may notice they start to have trouble balancing. You may also notice that they are moving slower than usual for no reason. They may start to suffer from uncontrollable tremors. They could complain of stiffness in their muscles or body. Over time, at later stages of Parkinson’s disease, you may notice your loved ones having difficulty speaking and walking. You may also notice that they start to have behavioral and mental changes.
- Symptoms of Depression
If you suspect that your loved ones have depression, you may notice that they are crying for no reason. You may also notice that they start to withdraw from family and friends. They may also have changes to their diet and sleep. They may even struggle to complete basic tasks and their hygiene may start to become poor. If the depression is serious, they may start to think about self-harm or even suicide.
Reasons Your Loved Ones Might Have Depression
One reason your loved ones might start to suffer from depression is that they may be unable to cope with the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. They may also struggle with the decrease of mobility and increased dependence on others. They also be struggling with the possibility of death.
However, even if your loved ones are not struggling with depression, Parkinson’s disease may cause depression to occur to your loved ones. This is because when your loved ones start to suffer from Parkinson’s disease, the chemicals in their brain would change. This may then cause your loved ones to suffer from mood disorders like anxiety and depression. Your loved ones might also start to exhibit a lack of motivation. Your loved ones might become more depressed as depression can also worsen their symptoms.
They may also suffer from a lack of dopamine production when they have Parkinson’s disease. This may also cause them to have lower levels of serotonin. So, this may also affect their mood and result in depression.
After learning about the symptoms of depression, you can help look for warning signs of depression so that you can help your loved ones fight against this disease. However, we at Discovery Village At Palm Beach Gardens do understand that it might be difficult to help your loved ones when they have depression. If you want your loved ones to be assured of personalized care, you can consider Discovery Village At Palm Beach Gardens. Contact us for more information!
