The Parkinson's Podcast: Mortality and Parkinson's with Dr. Bas Bloem

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In this episode, Dr. Bastiaan Bloem talks with Davis Phinney Foundation Executive Director Polly Dawkins about a recent article he co-authored, "The Elephant in the Room: Critical Reflections on Mortality Rates Among Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease."
In the article, Dr. Bloem et al. write, "Although the survival of people with Parkinson's has improved over time, people with Parkinson's still live fewer years than their age- and sex-matched population comparators, albeit at older ages. This difference can be small." Dr. Bloem and his co-authors also acknowledge that doctors and researchers "often emphasize the tremendous impact of [Parkinson's] on an individual’s life. However, in public awareness campaigns, we largely avoid discussions on the survival of people with Parkinson’s..."
It's understandable: the topic of mortality and Parkinson's is often painful. However, in this episode of The Parkinson's Podcast, Dr. Bloem argues that acknowledging that Parkinson's shortens lifespans is good for people with Parkinson's for multiple reasons.
Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Bloem's perspective about multiple topics related to mortality and Parkinson's, including:
-The commonly held view that people die with Parkinson's, not from Parkinson's
-Pesticides, chemical exposure, and other environmental risks
-Reasons for hope, including specific advice about exercise and diet
-The policy and funding implications of candid discussion of mortality in Parkinson's
and more.
Want to read the article associated with this podcast? Check it out on our website! davisphinneyfoundation.org/po...
Loving the Parkinson's Podcast? You can listen to more episodes on our website! davisphinneyfoundation.org/th...
Season 4 Episode 38

[@splashesin8]

It is a lot more about how the stuff unseen by others, sort of cumulatively overwhelms. The swallowing situation causing aspiration even during sleep, or just sitting there, not even eating or drinking. The disruption of autonomic functions when the intense rigidity doesn't wake you up, in the way dystonia pain usually does, so circulation becomes impeded for much longer while the muscles do not release.

[@davisphinneyfdn]

Thanks for your comment.
A speech language pathologist can help improve quality of life and reduce swallowing difficulties that are associated with worse outcomes and increased mortality. For many people, a speech language pathologist is a critical member of their care team.

[@newworld6474]

does instant coffee slow the progression on the affected side and on the not yet affected other side?

[@davisphinneyfdn]

There is not enough evidence to answer your question with certainty.
There is strong evidence that higher caffeine consumption is associated with lower risk of developing Parkinson's. However, once someone is living with Parkinson's, the effect is more difficult to estimate. Here is a blog post that discusses this issue:
davisphinneyfoundation.org/the-17-most-commonly-asked-questions-about-parkinsons-nutrition/

[@heatherblue5630]

Coffee in general gives me the shakes, it's the caffeine

[@Cabmaker]

I totally agree with your statement about dying from Parkinson’s I have been telling people the same thing about if you fall and die as the result it was because of Parkinson’s and had you not had pd you may not have fallen so on and so forth.

[@davisphinneyfdn]

The impacts of Parkinson's are so broad, but so are the impacts of exercise, attention, and all the many many ways to be proactive about living well. It's critical to be honest.