2023-07-02 01:00:00
04:00 am Sunday 02 July 2023
Existential hallucinations are those feelings that a person is close to, even though they are actually alone.
And following research showing that it is common in people with Parkinson’s disease, a new study suggests that it may predict cognitive decline in the condition as well, according to Science Alert.
The researchers reported that one in two people with Parkinson’s disease is believed to experience hallucinations regularly, and for a third of patients, they appear before more widespread symptoms, such as tremors.
Data was collected on 75 patients with Parkinson’s disease, ages 60 to 70, using neuropsychological interviews to assess cognitive decline and electroencephalography (EEG) to measure the brain at rest. Patients were also asked regarding any experiences they had with hallucinations of being.
The team found that cognitive decline of frontal executive function – which covers attention, problem-solving, emotional regulation and impulse control – was faster over five years in patients who experienced hallucinations early in the development of the disease.
“We now know that early hallucinations must be taken seriously in Parkinson’s disease,” says neurologist Olaf Planck of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne.
The researchers also detected a pattern of enhanced frontal theta oscillation activity (4 to 8 Hz) in the brain – but only for those experiencing hallucinations at the onset of Parkinson’s disease. It’s another sign health professionals can look for in the future.
Blank and his colleagues encourage anyone with Parkinson’s disease who has hallucinations to report their experiences to their doctors. These hallucinations are often unreported, ignored, or considered a side effect of treatment.
“Detecting early signs of dementia means early management of the disease, allowing us to develop improved and personalized therapies that attempt to modify the course of the disease and improve cognitive function,” Blank says.
Hallucinations are defined as misperceptions regarding sensory experience, usually arising from brain dysfunction, so it is not surprising that they become more prevalent with brain diseases such as Parkinson’s.
The next step for the researchers is to explore ways in which this early warning system can be used appropriately and reliably. This might involve detecting patterns of brain activity associated with hallucinations, perhaps even before they actually appear.
The research has been published in the journal Nature Mental Health.
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