Prognosis

It is difficult to make prognoses for Parkinson’s disease because of the varying nature of the disease. Parkinson’s is a chronic disease, which progresses with time. In particular, motor symptoms worsen rapidly in the early stages of disease and more slowly at the later stages. If untreated individuals often lose the ability to walk after an average of 8 years.

Medication has improved the prognosis of motor symptoms, however levodopa often produces undesired effects after several years of treatment.

The Hoehn and Yahr scale is used for describing the progression of Parkinson’s:

• Stage 0: No signs of disease
• Stage 1: Symptoms on one side of the body only.
• Stage 2: Symptoms on both sides of the body.  No impairment of balance.
• Stage 3: Balance impairment.  Mild to moderate disease.  Physically independent.
• Stage 4: Severe disability, but still able to walk or stand unassisted.
• Stage 5: Needing a wheelchair or bedridden unless assisted.