Gastrointestinal (GI) difficulties can be among the most bothersome of the non-motor symptoms caused by Parkinson’s disease (PD). Constipation, which involves the slowing down of the large intestine or lower gut is the most common of the GI symptoms, affecting 80-90% of people with PD.
However, slowing down of the stomach or upper gut, also known as gastroparesis, is a less well-known problem in PD, but is also extremely common and can significantly affect nutrition, medication effectiveness, and overall quality of life. Despite its prevalence, gastroparesis is frequently undiagnosed and therefore untreated.