Sudden death in Parkinson's disease: Unjustifiably forgotten.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that PD is accompanied by high rates of premature death compared with the general population. The main causes of deaths are related to pneumonia and cardiovascular diseases. Importantly, it has also been recognized that some PD patients may eventually die unexpectedly and suddenly, referred as Sudden Unexpected Death in Parkinson's Disease (SUDPAR). Despite on-going PD research, there are still deficits in our knowledge about the risk factors, mechanisms and prevention of SUDPAR. By some means, current evidence suggests cardiac abnormalities and autonomic dysfunction plays an important role in SUDPAR. Thus, SUDPAR in patients with PD is a real phenomenon and translational studies should be carried out with the aim of elucidating this phenomenon.