Article

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a frequent and complex progressive neurological
disorder that increases in incidence with age. Although historically PD has been
characterized by the presence of progressive dopaminergic neuronal loss of the
substantia nigra, the disease process also involves neurotransmitters other that
dopamine and regions of the nervous system outside the basal ganglia. Its
clinical presentation in elderly subjects differs from that in younger subjects,
with more rapid progression,
less frequent tremor, more pronounced axial signs,
more frequent non-motor signs linked to concomitant degeneration of
non-dopaminergic systems, and more frequent associated lesions. Despite the high
prevalence of PD in elderly subjects, few therapeutic trials have been conducted
in geriatric patients. Nevertheless, to improve functional disability while
ensuring drug tolerance, the principles of optimized and multidisciplinary
clinical management have to be known. The aim of this review is to provide an
update on clinical and therapeutic features of PD specifically observed in
elderly subjects.
CI - Copyright (c) 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Langue : FRANCAIS