The prevalence of gambling addicts among Parkinson's patients was found to be 3.4 per cent.
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PARIS: Online gambling presents a special peril for people with Parkinson's warn doctors, a disease that boosts compulsive risk-taking.
Internet casinos, poker and other online games can result in secret debts that can destroy a family, they say in the latest issue of the British Medical Journal (BMJ).
Parkinson's, a disease of the nerve system, is commonly known for problems with motor function, causing trembling, shaking and jerkiness. But, the BMJ editorial points out, Parkinson's patients also have problems with pathological gambling and other addictive behaviours. The phenomenon is worsened by dopamine agonists - the drugs that many take to ease their symptoms.
A study published last year in the journal Neurology found that the prevalence of gambling addicts among Parkinson's patients was 3.4 per cent, which more than doubled to 7.2 per cent among those who take dopamine agonists. By comparison, in the general British population, compulsive gambling afflicts just one per cent of people.
"We have noted that our patients are often secretive about their gambling and may end up thousands of pounds (dollars, euros) in debt before the problem is realised," wrote co-authors Sui Wong and Malcolm Steiger, who are neurologists at the Walter Centre in Liverpool, England.
"Many internet gambling companies actively lure gamblers with pop-ups to place free bets. This marketing technique is pervasive and can make it hard for vulnerable people to wean themselves off gambling."
People who develop Parkinson's at a young age are at even higher risk, they said.
They suggest that doctors can help to identify the problem by asking patients and carers about any change in behaviour or development of new compulsion.
For patients that become hooked on online gambling, doctors may consider such strategies as reducing or stopping dopamine agonists, while families can install firewalls to block Internet pop-ups and gambling sites or control the patient's finances if need be, they add.
Parkinson's and gambling
I am a victim. My X husband Mark has Parkinson's .I am Left with all the debt. I am Bankrupt and NO Husband, I am on the verge of loosing my house. Just because Mark is only a majority no want to know me. I have had all avenues blocked. I was the one who sorted out all Hospital appontments picked up his tablets made sure he had them. I thought I was doing my best.
Not only gambling
this is a very hard subject for me. My husband was diagnosed at the age of 40 with Parkinson Disease he was devistated. I vowed to be with him in sickness and in health at the time we where married 6 years he was a NYC police officer that was modified by his job and his guns taken away because he was shaking. Does anyone know what this can do to a man. He was so down in the dumps I tried to cheer him up and to try to be positve. He became so parinoid and felt worthless. The first medication he was given was Mirapex this is the worst medication you can give anyone. this medication messed him up so much that he became deprssed and he thought I did not care or understood him so he did not gamble on the internet he seeked people that would understand him. he met a couple of woman and slepted with one. this person know of his situation and took advantage of his vulnerability she know that he was going to retire from the police dept and was going to also receive disabilty insurance she posioned his mind about me in order to reel him in. I found out and before I realize that his behavior was due to the mirapex we seperated. My husband was on the verge of suicide he could not believe what he had done I knew that if I did not act fast he would hurt him self I took to to see psychs and did some research on this medication thats when I found out the ugly truth. these doctors are well aware of the side effects of Mirapex and do not give the proper warnings and I was at his appointments with him. I tried to sue the pharasutical companies but no lawyers would take my case because hypersexuality was not really talked about like gambling. I stayed with my husband we resently renewed our wedding vows I hurt so much still and have not gotten over this. I'm afraid that something else will happen it has been only 16 months we are both still devistated he still wonders if he will lose me because he knows how much pain this has all caused so please pay attention because even the most solid loving marriage is vulnerable I never in a million years thought that my husband would cheat on me
Abby T. Forever.yours128@yahoo.com