Bone mass in elderly patients with Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present study was to find risk factors for low bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty-six PD patients and 26 age-and sex-matched healthy controls were assessed twice within a 1-year period. PD symptoms, body weight, body fat mass, BMD, physical activity, smoking and serum concentrations of several laboratory analyses were investigated.

RESULTS

BMD in different locations was lower in PD patients compared with their controls and decreased during the investigated year. BMD was lower in PD patients with low body weight. BMD Z-score of trochanter in the PD group was directly correlated to the degree of physical activity and indirectly to the length of recumbent rest. Total body BMD Z-score in the PD group was directly correlated to the degree of rigidity. Serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D was slightly lower in PD patients.

CONCLUSION

Low body weight and low physical activity were risk factors for low BMD in PD, while rigidity seemed to be protective.