Management of osteoporosis in Parkinson's disease: A scoping review.

Abstract

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects the dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia. It leads to a range of motor symptoms such as tremors, bradykinesia, rigidity, and gait instability. A significant, but often overlooked, sequela of PD is osteoporosis, which contributes to a higher incidence of fractures. This risk is exacerbated by both PD itself as well as the medications used to manage PD. Despite the heightened risk of fragility fractures, osteoporosis in PD is frequently under-recognized and inadequately managed. This review aimed to explore the current literature on osteoporosis management strategies specifically for individuals with PD. MEDLINE, Scopus, and EMBASE were searched from database inception to August 10, 2025. Following a two-stage review process conducted by two independent reviewers, 18 relevant articles were identified. Of these, 17 were review articles and one was an interventional study. The literature most commonly identified lifestyle modifications, pharmacological treatments, and surgical interventions as management strategies for osteoporosis in PD. However, most of the recommendations were based on research conducted in the general population, raising concerns about their effectiveness for individuals with PD, who may have unique clinical needs. We note a significant gap in research focused on osteoporosis management in PD patients. Research efforts should prioritize developing tailored strategies to manage osteoporosis in individuals with PD.