Comedian Robin Williams was in the early stages of Parkinson's disease when he took his own life earlier this week, according to his widow.
A local neurologist says it has long been known that Parkinson's is linked with depression. Dr. Irene Richard of UR Medicine is a scientific advisor to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson's Foundation.
Fifty percent of Parkinson's patients have significant symptoms of depression, according to Dr. Richard. "I think that we used to think of Parkinson's disease as being associated with predominantly motor symptoms including tremor, or stiffness, or slowness. We now, I think, feel very confident that Parkinson's affects other areas of the brain and affects emotions," Richard said. “I think that a lot of times people may think it may be a reaction to receiving the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, or a reaction to functional limitations or immobility in advanced stages of the disease, but sometimes depression can happen even before people are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease."
Richard said a national study she led two years ago shows that Parkinson's patients can be successfully treated for depression with medication.
She says she hopes Robin Williams' tragic death will make both the health care community and the general public more aware of the connection between Parkinson's disease and depression so patients can get help right away.
"We have a treatment available for depression in patients with Parkinson's disease that, if we recognize it, we can start right now. I think that it certainly should be the first course of action, of course, in addition to psychotherapy and other kinds of things."
