Clinics | 2021
Prevention of Parkinson’s disease-related sudden death
Abstract
The year 2021 marks 204 years since James Parkinson published his booklet entitled, ‘‘An Essay on the Shaking Palsy,’’ containing the first clear clinical description of the shaking palsy or paralysis agitans, now referred to as Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, he was unable to foresee the current illuminating period in PD research (1-5). PD is the second most frequent neurodegenerative disorder of aging after Alzheimer’s disease and the most frequent movement disorder (4-7). In most textbooks, PD is defined as a complex progressive neurodegenerative disorder clinically characterized by tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia/akinesia, and postural instability owing to progressive neuronal loss in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Additionally, the clinical presentation includes other motor and non-motor symptoms (4,5,8-10). The movement abnormalities in PD are due to the loss of dopaminergic neurons of the SNpc and widespread intracellular aggregates of a-synuclein (4,5,8). Epidemiologically, PD occurs in 0.3% of the general population, in 1.0% individuals older than 60 years, and in 3% of those aged above 80 years, with incidence rates ranging from 8 to 18 per 100,000 person-years (4,5,9). Additionally, the prevalence of PD is estimated to increase by more than 50% by 2030, and the only proven risk factor for the disease is advancing age (4,8,9,11,12). Although there is no known cure for PD, available therapies affect disease symptoms and predominantly focus on the dopaminergic pathway (4,8,11). Correspondingly, potential brain surgery interventions (deep brain stimulation of subthalamic nuclei) for those developing intractable levodopa-related motor complications are successfully applied today (4,5). Considering these data, it is clear that PD is a progressive, incurable, and systemic neurodegenerative disorder (4,5). Importantly, there is an emerging consensus that cardiovascular disease in patients with PD imposes a considerable burden on mortality, causing the scientific community to be increasingly alert to these real events (4,13). Moreover, several epidemiological data over the years have shown that PD is not a benign condition as individuals with PD have a higher rate of premature death compared to the general population (4,5,7,14-16). More precisely, mortality in PD does not increase in the first 5 years after disease onset, but increases thereafter, with a relative risk of 3.5 after 10 years (4,5). Thus, determining factors, such as aspiration pneumonia, and cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases, typically cause deaths in patients with PD (4,17). Additionally, sudden unexpected death in PD (SUDPAR) is considered an important cause of death in PD (4,7). The pioneer authors defined SUDPAR as sudden death in a patient with PD without any satisfactory elucidation of death as determined by autopsy studies (4,7). To date, there are no epidemiological studies that precisely demonstrate the possible incidence of SUDPAR in the leading research centers for movement disorders (4,7). However, a general analysis of relevant studies on SUDPAR since the 70s has shown that an average of 14% of PD individuals die suddenly (4,7). Recent research suggests that multiple risk factors may contribute to SUDPAR, such as age at onset, duration of PD, sex, severity of motor abnormalities, concomitant cardiac and pulmonary disease, drug treatment (polypharmacy), and sleep disorders/circadian alterations (4,7,18). The major domains of potential mechanisms of SUDPAR are autonomic, that is, cardiovascular (4,7,18). Recent data show that cardiac abnormalities and autonomic dysfunction play an important role in SUDPAR, as approximately 60% of patients with PD have cardiovascular disturbances owing to the frequent autonomic disorders in PD (4,7,18). In general, SUDPAR is a fatal complication of PD. Furthermore, a fundamental practical problem in studying SUDPAR risk factors, mechanisms, and prevention is that it is relatively uncommon. In this context, it would be interesting to develop preventive studies in patients with PD to minimize risk factors for premature mortality (4,7,18,19). Following this line of reasoning, some general recommendations deserve to be emphasized.