Hallucinations in Parkinson’s disease: new insights into mechanisms and treatments

Hallucinations are common in Parkinson’s disease and can be distressing to patients and their families. They are associated with higher rates of nursing home placement and with increased mortality. Their underlying mechanisms have been elusive, but recent advances in network imaging provides some intriguing insights into possible underlying drivers. Treatment is complicated by risk of worsening Parkinson’s motor symptoms and by higher rates of mortality with antipsychotics, but new therapeutic avenues are emerging that offer potential hope.