Abstract
Parkinson's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease, characterized by progressive loss of nigrostratal dopaminergic neurons and other ascendant systems of the brainstem. Apart from typical motor signs, patients complain of various non-motor symptoms, including autonomic dysfunction and nutritional and metabolic disorders.
The purpose of this paper is to summarize current knowledge about nutritional and metabolic disorders in patients with Parkinson's disease and about their possible causes, namely changes of energy output, malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, hyposmia, endocrinological disorders, depression, dementia and therapeutic factors. The disease progression is usually associated with weight loss of an unclear etiology.
Hence, we emphasize the importance of further research as well as the improvement of nutritional care of patients as a prevention of complications due to malnutrition.