RESPIRATORY DYSFUNCTION IN PARKINSONS-DISEASE

Respiratory morbidity and mortality from aspiration and pneumonia are extremely common in Parkinson's disease and the parkinsonian syndromes . Restrictive neuromuscular impairment also is frequently evident, sim ilar to that occurring in many other neurologic conditions. Some parki nsonian disorders may be associated with upper airway obstruction, abn ormal respiratory control, and sleep-disordered breathing. Pulmonary d ysfunction also can occur as a result of several of the medications us ed in the treatment of these conditions.