How stress and mindfulness could impact Parkinson’s disease symptoms

News

Author: Saskia MairPublished: 18 March 2021

Parkinson's LifePrep: Parkinson's LifeCook: Parkinson's LifeServes:

A woman meditating on a yoga mat

High levels of stress are associated with worse Parkinson’s disease symptoms – but mindfulness could help manage them, a new survey has suggested.

As part of the study, researchers in the Netherlands and the US analysed the results of a survey sent out through the Fox Insight cohort. Of the 5,000 people with Parkinson’s who responded, nearly 82% said stress worsened tremor, and patients also reported an impact on symptoms such as sleeping problems, depression and involuntary movement. However, those who practised mindfulness perceived a positive effect on symptoms – with nearly 86% of them recommending mindfulness to others with the condition.

The study authors concluded: “Our findings show that stress is an important topic for Parkinson’s disease patients, that it has a considerable and detrimental influence on quality of life and on symptom severity, but that it is also potentially amendable to interventions aimed at reducing stress.”


Read more:

Survey highlights carers’ knowledge gap on Parkinson’s disease psychosis

New biotech to drive forward GDNF treatment for Parkinson’s disease

Go Back

Share this story

Comments


Related articles


mindfulness

Resources & Tools

Mindfulness toolkit: maintaining your mental health during lockdown

A wellbeing toolkit designed for people with Parkinson’s

READ MORE
A pensive man looks out a window

Special reports

Parkinson’s disease and loneliness: “people are hungry for some connection”

Dr Indu Subramanian on the how and why of staying socially connected

READ MORE
Rosemarie Wilson stress-free life

Health & Fitness

9 steps to a stress-free life with Parkinson’s

How to improve your quality of life in 9 easy steps

READ MORE