Glossary

bradyphrenia
Slowness of thought.
deep brain stimulation
A form of surgery that is used to treat some of the symptoms of Parkinson's.
delusions
When a person has thoughts and beliefs that aren’t based on reality.
dyskinesia
Involuntary movements, often a side effect of taking Parkinson’s medication for a long period of time.
freezing
A symptom of Parkinson’s where someone will stop suddenly while walking or when starting a movement.
hallucinations
When a person sees, hears, feels, smells or even tastes something that doesn’t exist.
hypomimia
The loss of facial expression caused by difficulty controlling facial muscles.
Lewy bodies
Protein deposits that develop inside some nerve cells in the brain, causing the cells to die. This loss leads to dementia with Lewy bodies.
motor symptoms
Symptoms that interrupt the ability to complete learned sequences of movements.
non-motor symptoms
Symptoms associated with Parkinson’s that aren’t associated with movement difficulties.
‘on/off’
If a person's symptoms are well controlled, this is known as the 'on' period, which means that medication is working well. When symptoms return, this is known as the 'off' period. This might mean that a person who is out for a walk would suddenly be unable to continue walking, or when seated would feel unable to get up to answer the door. 'Off' periods usually come on gradually, but occasionally can be more sudden. When they come on suddenly, some people have compared this 'on/off' effect to that of a light switch being turned on and off.
wearing off
This is where a Parkinson’s drug becomes less effective before it is time for a person’s next dose. This may cause them to go ‘off’.