1,548 views
What do sex, shopping or gambling addictions and binge eating have to do with Parkinson's? Moderator Sabine Heinrich explores this question in a conversation with neurologist and neuroscientist Prof. Dr. Ullrich Wüllner. The answer: The behaviors mentioned are so-called impulse control disorders and can be associated with certain anti-Parkinson's drugs. The phenomenon affects around five to ten percent of sufferers. It usually occurs at the beginning of the disease in younger Parkinson's patients who already had a predisposition to "seek out novelty" and experience particular satisfaction from it. In the podcast, the research group leader at the DZNE Bonn, head of the movement disorders section of the Neurology Clinic and acting director of the Clinic for Neurodegenerative Diseases at the University Hospital Bonn explains why impulse control disorders can occur in Parkinson's and how important early detection as well as information and medical advice about this possible side effect of certain drugs are. In general, Parkinson's also affects relationships and family life. That's why Wüllner also calls Parkinson's a "couple's disease." If you also want to know why coffee reduces the risk of Parkinson's disease and what the hallucinations of a jazz musician once triggered in the neurologist, you shouldn't miss this podcast episode.