Parkinson Disease Treatments Show Risk for Developing Gambling Problems

Newswise — Some treatments for Parkinson disease may present an increased risk of developing pathological gambling in patients, according to a study presented according to a study that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology 58th Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif., April 1 " 8, 2006.

Pathological gambling is an impulse control disorder that can cause devastating effects on the personal and professional lives of those who have it.

The study surveyed 188 patients with Parkinson disease who were being treated with medication, surgery, or both for their symptoms. Researchers found that six percent of patients with Parkinson disease developed problems with gambling compared to 1.5 percent in the general population. Both dopamine agonist therapies (drugs that activate the dopamine receptor in the brain) and deep brain stimulus (DBS) surgery were associated with gambling.

No patients who were prescribed the drugs levodopa, or were non-gamblers before treatment, developed symptoms of pathological gambling.

Of those who were on one of more medications, including pramipexole, pergolide, or ropinirole, 10 developed gambling problems. Two of those who had DBS surgery to remedy their Parkinson symptoms developed gambling problems after their operations.

"Patients with Parkinson disease who have been gamblers should inform their neurologist about any history of gambling while discussing treatment options," said study author Oksana Suchowersky, MD, a neuroscience researcher at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. "Consulting with their doctor is the best way to minimize the risk of turning a pastime into a serious concern."

Parkinson disease is due to a loss of nerve cells in an area deep within the brain, called the substantia nigra. This area produces the chemical dopamine. Dopamine helps send signals within the brain. Without the right amount of dopamine, movement can become impaired. Dopamine is also associated with creating pleasurable emotions and positive reinforcement to motivate the brain to do certain activities. DBS surgery involves running an electrical current (similar to a pacemaker for the heart) to an area of the brain near the substantia nigra in order to alleviate tremors caused by Parkinson disease.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 19,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease, and stroke.

For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com.

Editor's Note: Dr. Suchowersky will present this research during a scientific platform session at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 6 in room 6CD of the San Diego Convention Center.