Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) are known to suffer from motor symptoms of the disease, but they also experience non-motor symptoms (NMS) that are often present before diagnosis or that inevitably emerge with disease progression. The motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease have been extensively researched, and effective clinical tools for their assessment and treatment have been developed and are readily available. In contrast, researchers have only recently begun to focus on the NMS of Parkinson's Disease, which are poorly recognized and inadequately treated by clinicians.

The NMS of PD have a significant impact on patient quality of life and mortality and include neuropsychiatric, sleep-related, autonomic, gastrointestinal, and sensory symptoms. While some NMS can be improved with currently available treatments, others may be more refractory and will require research into novel (non-dopaminergic) drug therapies for the future.

Edited by members of the UK Parkinson's Disease Non-Motor Group (PD-NMG) and with contributions from international experts, this new edition summarizes the current understanding of NMS symptoms in Parkinson's disease and points the way towards future research.

K. Ray Chaudhuri, Head and Co-Medical Director, National Restless Legs Syndrome Clinic and National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence, Kings College Hospital, Ruskin Wing, Denmark Hill, London, UK,Eduardo Tolosa,Professor of Neurology and Director of Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorder,University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Anthony H. V. Schapira, Chairman of the University Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London,,Werner Poewe,Chairman, Department of Neurology,, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria