Avoiding mental changes and falls in older Parkinson's patients.

Falling occurs more often in patients with Parkinson's disease when there is inadequate--not excessive--effect of the antiparkinsonian agent. Thus, falling may be evidence of a need for increased dosage. Of PD patients participating in a study, 60% reported experiencing hallucinations, confusion, vivid dreams, or nightmares. Confusion (34%) was the most commonly reported mental complaint; 27% reported vivid dreams; 26%, hallucinations; and 20%, nightmares.