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.