Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are both neurodegenerative diseases. They’re similar in terms of symptoms, treatment, risk factors, and outlook. But there are also differences.
Neurodegenerative diseases cause progressive damage to cells in the nervous system. These diseases can affect functions such as memory, behavior, and movement.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are two of the
AD is the
People with AD have abnormal accumulations of two proteins in their brains:
- beta-amyloid outside of nerve cells (amyloid plaques)
- tau protein inside of nerve cells (neurofibrillary tangles)
The underlying cause of these changes remains unknown. However, their presence is associated with the death of nerve cells, leading to the symptoms of AD.
PD is a condition where nerve cells in a part of the brain involved in movement become damaged and begin to die, leading to progressive problems with movement.
PD may also lead to nonmotor symptoms and changes in memory, thinking, and behavior.
People with PD have accumulations of the protein alpha-synuclein in their nerve cells called Lewy bodies. Experts believe that Lewy bodies contribute in some way to the damage and death of nerve cells in PD.
There are several similarities between AD and PD. Both are neurogenerative diseases with a gradual onset that typically affect older adults. Additionally, both involve unusual accumulations of protein in the brain.
The symptoms of both AD and PD become worse over time, and there’s no cure for either condition. Treatments focus on managing symptoms and improving quality of life. Doctors use a combination of drug and nondrug therapies.
However, there are important differences between AD and PD in terms of symptoms, treatment, and outlook.
Differences in symptoms
The main symptoms of PD involve movement, although nonmotor symptoms can occur as well. People with PD are also at risk of developing PD dementia, a type of Lewy body dementia.
The symptoms that someone with AD experiences can depend on how advanced their disease is, and the symptoms of PD can vary greatly among individuals and also depend on how advanced PD has become.
That said, the following chart generally compares the most common symptoms of each condition.
| Symptoms | Alzheimer’s | Parkinson’s |
|---|---|---|
| problems with memory | yes | yes |
| apathy | yes | yes |
| depression | yes | yes |
| trouble communicating or finding words | yes | no |
| problems with reasoning or judgment | yes | yes |
| behavioral or personality changes | yes | no |
| confusion | yes | yes |
| difficulty with swallowing | yes | yes |
| tremors | no | yes |
| muscle stiffness | no | yes |
| slowed movements | no | yes |
| troubles with coordination and balance | no | yes |
| constipation | no | yes |
sexual dysfunction | no | yes |
Differences in treatment
There’s no cure for either AD or PD. For AD, there are several drugs that can treat the symptoms. This
It may also include antipsychotic drugs to manage agitation or aggression or antidepressants to address depression.
For PD, there are also drugs that can help address the motor symptoms of PD and drugs to manage the nonmotor symptoms of PD. One example is prescribing antidepressants to treat depression associated with PD.
Nondrug treatments can also help people with both conditions. These include:
- keeping yourself mentally stimulated
- getting regular exercise
- eating a healthy, balanced diet
- developing a support network that can help improve your mental and emotional well-being
- receiving physical and occupational therapy
- receiving speech therapy
- receiving talk therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy
- seeking complementary therapies such as massage or yoga
Deep brain stimulation may also be helpful for some people with PD that doesn’t respond well to medications. The best strategy for you will depend on which disease you are living with and its stage of progression.
Learn more: Parkinson’s medications and Alzheimer’s treatment options.
Differences in risk factors
Being of older age and having a family history of either AD or PD are risk factors for both conditions. With both diseases, there are also genetic variations that may predispose you to developing either illness.
Other risk factors for AD include:
- Down syndrome
- certain health conditions, such as:
- traumatic brain injury
- smoking
Other risk factors for PD include being male and being exposed to pesticides.
Learn more: Genetics of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
Differences in outlook
Both AD and PD are progressive, meaning the diseases get worse as time passes.
With AD, those in the later stages typically have problems swallowing. This increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia, one of the most common causes of death in people with AD.
AD was the
With PD, it’s more difficult to determine how each individual with the condition will progress. While the life expectancy of people with PD is similar to the general population, their quality of life can be reduced in the late stages.
The effects of PD typically lead to some level of disability
AD and PD are two of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. Both are progressive conditions with no known cure. However, treatments can help manage symptoms and boost quality of life.
While AD and PD do have some similarities, they also have several important differences. These can include their predominant symptoms as well as differences in treatments, risk factors, and outlooks for people with the conditions.
