Who is at risk?
Find out how common hallucinations and delusions are, and hear the impact they had on Ryan's family.
What you may not know about Parkinson's
Find out more about Parkinson’s-related hallucinations and delusions in this symptom overview
You may already be familiar with tremors and movement challenges that come with Parkinson’s disease. But there’s more to the disease that’s very real, less recognized, and rarely spoken about by patients—non-motor symptoms. Non-motor symptoms are a key cause of disability and contribute to the deterioration of quality of life in Parkinson’s disease. These symptoms can be even more impactful than motor symptoms, causing some people to experience hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't there) and delusions (believing things that aren't true).
Non-motor symptoms:
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Anxiety
- Loss of mental sharpness/acuity
- Constipation, impaired bladder control
- Speech and swallowing issues
- Loss of smell
- Gastrointestinal disturbances
- Depression
Motor symptoms:
- Resting tremors
- Slowness of movement
- Rigidity/stiffness in muscles
- Trouble with balance
Hallucinations and delusions are examples of non-motor symptoms and may appear earlier in the disease than many are prepared for. Even though we can’t predict exactly who will develop these symptoms, there are ways to manage them.
Your doctor is there to help, so don't hesitate to talk about any changes you notice. Keeping an eye on these signs and having open conversations with your healthcare team can make a big difference.
What are the causes of Parkinson's-related hallucinations and/or delusions and treatment considerations?
Hear from Dr. Yasar Torres-Yaghi about what causes these symptoms and learn about possible treatment options.
What should you watch out for?
Most people don’t think of hallucinations and/or delusions when thinking about Parkinson's, but the truth is, these symptoms can come with the territory and hallucinations and/or delusions affect ~50% of people living with Parkinson's disease over the course of their disease.
The exact cause of hallucinations and delusions in Parkinson's is unknown. Parkinson's disease is a central nervous system disorder, and hallucinations and delusions may develop as a part of the natural progression of the disease. These symptoms can be made worse by certain medications that treat the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Certain additional factors may increase your risk:
Older age
Increasing severity of symptoms
How long you’ve had Parkinson’s
Dementia
Depression
Sleep disturbances
Impaired vision
Advanced or late-stage Parkinson’s disease
Some Parkinson's disease medications
Some people may never have to deal with hallucinations or delusions at all, but there’s no way to tell who will be affected. Symptoms can appear at any time, but become more common as the disease progresses.
That's why it's important to be vigilant of these symptoms. Staying aware, noticing changes, and talking openly with your healthcare team can better prepare you for whatever may come next.
Have you taken the simple 4-question screener yet?
These 4 simple questions can help you recognize possible features of Parkinson's-related hallucinations and delusions.
Your guide to Parkinson's-related hallucinations and delusions
Learn about Parkinson’s-related hallucinations and delusions, including causes and who’s at risk, using this basic fact sheet.
Ready to learn about a treatment option?
You’ve taken an important step by learning about Parkinson's-related hallucinations and delusions. Now plan your next move by exploring a possible treatment option. Remember, only your doctor can determine if a treatment option is right for you.