NON-MOTOR VISUAL DISORDERS IN KAZAKHTAN PATIENTS WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Abstract

We observed 106 Parkinson’s patients in Almaty city to detect non-motor visual disorders. Among non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), visual symptoms are becoming increasingly important. Visual impairments cause severe disability, reduce compensatory ability and adaptation of the patient to motor impairments and reduce life expectancy. Many neurologists do not take into serious consideration the importance of visual disorders in PD. This type of research has never been carried out in Kazakhstan or indeed the rest of Central Asia. To study visual non-motor disorders in PD patients in Almaty to help optimize diagnosis and evaluate their correlation with disease duration and severity.  The diagnosis included the following elements: patient’s complaints and history, a general physical examination, a neurological examination with auxiliary assessment scales. The study confirmed that non-motor manifestations are common in PD patients. Research to date has confirmed the predictive value of non-motor PD manifestations. Non-motor visual impairments are important to the overall quality of life of Parkinson’s patients as well its motor manifestation, and require a very careful approach and considerable effort for early detection by a physician, medical personnel and caregivers, including relatives.