Can Parkinson's Disease Cause Hallucinations? All You Need To Know

 Among the many potential complications of Parkinson’s Disease, hallucinations and delusions are the most common, with about 20% to 40% of patients facing the same. These can be disturbing and even frightening to experience. Luckily, hallucinations are a manageable symptom as long as patients receive the best Parkinson’s Disease treatment. Here, we talk about exactly how hallucinations work and the steps that patients can take to combat them.

Understanding Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative conditions in the world. It primarily damages the dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra. Patients who have had Parkinson’s Disease for more than 20 years are likely to develop behavioral and memory problems that can lead to psychosis, which in turn increases the risk of hallucinations. 

In addition to hallucinations, patients may also experience severely distorted thinking or delusions (fixed beliefs about things that are not true), which can negatively impact their quality of life. 

Understanding hallucinations

Hallucinations are tricks that your mind plays on you while you are awake, causing you to sense things that aren’t actually there. Hallucinations can be of five types:

• Visual, involving ‘seeing things’ like animals or people

• Auditory, involving imaginary voices or sounds

• Tactile, involving imaginary objects and textures

• Gustatory, involving tasting unusual tastes 

• Olfactory, involving smelling odors that aren’t there 

Among these, visual hallucinations are the most common among people with Parkinson’s Disease. They are typically caused by high levels of dopamine in the brain or even by the prolonged use of certain medications for the disease. Initially, patients may be aware that their hallucinations are not real. However, as the condition progresses, they may lose their grip on reality and feel genuinely threatened by the hallucinations. In severe cases, patients may end up harming themselves or others while reacting to a hallucination. 

Tips on managing hallucinations

If you are experiencing hallucinations, it is essential to notify your physician immediately so that they can prescribe the right medication. In addition, certain lifestyle changes can help you manage your hallucinations and not lose your sense of control when they come on.

• Try to move around in well-lit, clutter-free surroundings

• Ensure that you are getting enough sleep, as hallucinations are often stronger when you haven’t had enough rest

• Get checked for any metabolic or electrolyte imbalances in your body. Your physician may prescribe a new diet to rectify these

• Engage in stimulating activities in the evenings to keep yourself busy and ward off the risk of hallucinations as it gets dark outside

• Keep communicating with your family and caregivers about the hallucinations you are experiencing and whether they have been increasing or decreasing. Don’t leave out any episodes, even if you think they are minor

• Ask your caregivers for support if you are experiencing extremely vivid or frightening hallucinations. For instance, if you are convinced that there is a dog barking in your living room, your caregiver can comfort you by stating that they will take the dog outside (rather than trying to convince you that there is no dog)

Experiencing hallucinations can be scary, and it is essential to seek your physician’s help immediately to combat them. As part of the best Parkinson’s Disease treatment, your physician will typically recommend a mixture of Stem Cell Therapy, Regenerative Rehabilitation Program, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy. All of these will enhance your motor function, address neurological and psychological imbalances, thus minimizing your risk of hallucinations and improving quality of life.