The Effect of Non-motor Symptoms on Quality of Life in Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

Non-motor symptoms (NMS) are common in Parkinson’s disease (PD), affecting up to 90% of patients during their illness, and include neuropsychiatric complications, autonomic disorders, sleep disturbances and sensory symptoms. Although NMS correlate strongly with advancing disease, they may precede the onset of motor symptoms by a number of years. It is increasingly recognised that NMS result in a significant burden for people with PD and affect quality of life (QoL) to a greater extent than motor features. However, NMS often remain undiagnosed and untreated. Herein we review the impact of common NMS on QoL for patients with PD.