Case Report of Treatment Issues in the Management of Dementia with Parkinsonism

Abstract

Background

Parkinsonism as a clinical syndrome needs to be diagnosed multidisciplinary. Cognition problems and behavioural symptoms together with the neurologic symptomatology make the treatment very complicated.

Aims

To emphasize the importance of effective management strategies that may extend quality of life and independence.

Methods

This is a case report of 59 year old male with complicated clinical presentation of dementia with parkinsonism last two years treated with levodopa. Admitted with symptoms of fluctuating cognition, memory problems, visual hallucinations and depression and also generalized rigidity after introduction of atypical antipsychotic. Medical history: epilepsy in the last 15 years, trauma 7 years ago. After admission he was examined clinically and the brain computed tomography (CT) and electroencephalography (EEG) were done.

Results

We analyzed possible etiologies and differential diagnosis of presented symptoms–extrapyramidal signs, mental confusion with hallucinations which are the three most common clinical features of Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD). CT reveals diffuse cortical atrophy with encephalopathy in the white matter combined with dilatation of lateral ventricles. EEG was with theta disrhythmic activity. After consultation with neurologist the patient was given Carbamazepine for epilepsy and Levodopa/Carbidopa to control parkinsonism. Donepezil was introduced. Two weeks after admission the patient was discharged with given advice to be treated in geriatric clinic.

Conclusion

After thorough clinical examination with proper diagnostic procedures with imaging modalities we should try cholinesterase inhibitors because they might improve cognition and can be beneficial for reduction of the hallucinations and behaviour disturbances combined with proper management of the surroundings.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.