Does Parkinson’s Cause Weight Loss in Older Adults?

Parkinson’s disease (PD) comes with several symptoms that can change the trajectory of a person’s life. If you find that you or a loved one begins losing weight after a diagnosis, it’s likely that these other symptoms are contributing to it. Doctors often mention that maintaining a healthy weight is key when living with Parkinson’s, but this is sometimes easier said than done.

Losing weight isn’t the only fluctuation people living with PD experience – some will gain weight instead. Any change in weight may affect your loved one’s health, so it’s important that you know how to help them manage this.

Today, we’ll explore how Parkinson’s influences changes in a person’s weight, as well as how to help manage this and when to see a doctor.

Weight loss in Parkinson’s

Contrary to popular belief, weight changes aren’t actually a symptom of Parkinson’s. However, its true symptoms contribute to changes in diet and eating habits, which often cause weight loss. These symptoms include:

• Difficulties with chewing and swallowing food
• Tremors or involuntary movements often burn more calories than are being consumed
• Parkinson’s motor symptoms, like slowness of movement or rigidity, may make eating and cooking feel like more trouble than it’s worth
• Loss of smell makes an eating experience less enjoyable (smell accounts for 75-90% of taste!)
• Depression can be a result of Parkinson’s, which often leads to a smaller appetite
• Certain medications for Parkinson’s cause nausea, which might put someone off their food

While Parkinson’s might inadvertently cause weight loss, these symptoms may mask another medical problem. For example, cancer, thyroid disease, diabetes or bowel disease all cause weight loss. Some people brush their weight loss off as a by-product of their PD while the true reason is something more sinister.

It’s always important to keep cancer screenings up to date and have regular appointments with your loved one’s primary care physician to prevent other health conditions from falling through the cracks.

When should you worry about weight loss associated with Parkinson’s?

Weight loss might not seem like the worst result of Parkinson’s, but it’s vital that you don’t underestimate its importance in your loved one’s journey. Weight loss has been associated with a poorer quality of life and even a more rapid progression of Parkinson’s, which may lead to severe symptoms.

Weight loss often leads to further health problems, and not getting enough calories contributes to malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies in older adults. Malnutrition comes with a number of health issues, including an increased risk of infection, fatigue and fragility. Without intervention, these risks can spiral out of control and cause issues with activity levels and function.

An incredibly common issue among older adults is osteoporosis, which is otherwise known as porous or fragile bones. The risk of this is exacerbated by being underweight as bone structure is dependent on bearing weight. When someone has osteoporosis, they’re more likely to fall and fracture a bone, which leads to further disability and fragility.

But what does this all mean? The bottom line is that maintaining a healthy weight is essential for your overall health. If your loved one is struggling with unwanted weight loss, there are several things to do to help them.

Tips for gaining weight

Gaining the weight already lost with Parkinson’s is often harder than many of us realise. However, there are a few ways to help your loved one up their calories, including:

Change their meal plan

Instead of cooking three big meals a day, offer small, frequent meals every two to three hours. This will make it easier for them to finish their meals without feeling overwhelmed, nauseous or defeated. If you notice they’re not finishing their meals, add nutritious snacks throughout the day. Good examples are fruit, Greek yogurt and seeds.

Keep easy-to-grab foods on hand

If your loved one struggles to prepare their own meals, they might forget to eat throughout the day. To avoid this, keep prepared meals in the freezer for them to heat up while you’re not around. Pre-portion snacks, like fruit and peanut butter dip, are great to keep in the fridge.

Add extras to all meals

There are many ways to increase the calories in a meal without making it overly rich or heavy. Add cheese, cream and butter to meals without compromising their flavour or texture. Certain herbs, spices and sauces can also stimulate appetite, so experiment with your cooking!

Drink the calories

If your loved one really can’t stomach heavy meals, there are plenty of high-calorie drinks to try instead. Milkshakes made with full-fat milk, malted drinks or smoothies made with Greek yogurt are all great options. Your loved one’s doctor may recommend nutritional supplement drinks, as these replace some of the nutrients missed with their limited diet.

Avoid serving too much coffee, tea or clear soups, as these are all super filling but not very calorie-dense, leading to weight loss.

Choose soft foods

People with Parkinson’s might find that really chewy foods, like steak, dried fruit and root vegetables, are difficult to eat and fatiguing for their mouths and jaws. Soft foods are much easier to chew and digest, hopefully helping your loved one eat more without getting so tired. Good soft food options are smoothies, ground meats and soft proteins.

Consider the right equipment

As Parkinson’s symptoms progress, your loved one may find it more difficult to cook, eat or drink. If you find this happening, it might be time to look into specialist items that could help. For example, some people with PD tremors find an all-in-one knife and fork to be really helpful. Here are some equipment you could consider for your loved one:

• Specially designed cutlery: All-in-one cutlery, extra-large handles, cutlery that’s bent to suit different grips, self-levelling spoons etc.
• Plate guards: These clip onto the side of a plate to stop food from falling off the edge and make it easier to get it on a fork or spoon.
• Insulated plates, bowls and cups: To keep food warmer for longer so your loved one can eat at their own pace.
• Non-slip mats: Made from a special tacky material to stop drinks from falling over and plates from moving around.
• Sip and nosey cups: These are excellent for people with tremors because they help them drink enough fluids without spilling.

When to speak to a doctor about weight loss

Weight loss often means your loved one isn’t getting the optimal nutrients to aid their body through their disease, possibly speeding up its progression. For this reason, Parkinson’s motor symptoms must be kept an eye on by a professional. This means your loved one should be seeing their healthcare provider on a semi-regular basis. They may even notice the weight loss pattern before you have a chance to bring it up.

However, if you’re concerned about your loved one’s weight, don’t wait until their next appointment. They can prescribe nutritional supplements or meal replacement drinks, or swap the medication that’s making them feel nauseous.

What about weight gain in Parkinson’s?

Parkinson’s sometimes makes people less active because they feel discouraged by not being able to do things they used to do as easily. If this is the case for your loved one, you might actually notice them gaining weight instead of losing it.

Weight gain may also be a side effect of PD treatment, including deep brain stimulation (DBS) and medication. For example, dopamine agonists and levodopa can come with impulsive behaviours as side effects. Binge eating is a common example of impulsive behaviour, which often leads to weight gain.

Things you can do if you notice your loved one gaining weight include:

• Look at their portion sizes, use a smaller plate and weigh ingredients before cooking
• Offer them five portions of fruit and vegetables a day
• Choose low-fat alternatives, like skimmed and semi-skimmed milk instead of full-fat
• Reduce their sugar intake by offering healthy sweet treats like fruit and smoothies instead of cakes, biscuits and pastries
• Encourage them to get outside for regular walks or find gentle exercises that they can do comfortably

Again, weight gain might be a symptom of another underlying health condition rather than Parkinson’s. If you’re concerned, we recommend talking to their GP or Parkinson’s nurse to determine the root cause of their weight fluctuations.

How Country Cousins can help

At Country Cousins, we understand the importance of personal and tailored care for older adults with Parkinson’s. Our carers are expertly trained to offer compassionate and competent care, from cooking and cleaning to continence and companionship, all from the comfort of your loved one’s home. Dealing with a Parkinson’s diagnosis is often stressful enough without moving home, which is why our 24-hour live-in carers can be such a relief for many of our clients.

Changes in weight often affect people with Parkinson’s, and our carers tailor your loved one’s plan depending on their GP’s recommendations and their own observations. If you don’t have time to plan and prepare meals to encourage your loved one to gain weight, a Country Cousin carer can take on this responsibility for you.

Talk to our team today

As the UK’s longest-serving introductory live-in care agency, we have been providing compassionate live-in care to those who need it since 1959 – all from the comfort of their own homes.

Give us a call today on 01293 224 706. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.