Changes in diet may improve life expectancy in Parkinson's patients, a study by Aberdeen University suggests.

New research shows weight loss in people with Parkinson's disease leads to decreased life expectancy, increased risk of dementia and more dependency on care.

The research team proposes closer monitoring for weight loss in Parkinson's patients and interventions for those who lose weight may improve health.

The study followed 275 people with Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism disorders for up to ten years, monitoring weight and investigating associations between weight loss and outcomes.

They found weight loss is common for people with Parkinson's disease and can occur in the early stages.

Angus MacLeod, who led the study, said: "Weight loss is a common problem in Parkinson's but it wasn't clear before we did this how common it was, mainly because of biases in previous studies or what the consequences were of weight loss.

"Our hypothesis was that people who are losing weight were going to have adverse outcomes.

"Our finding that those who lose weight have poorer outcomes is important because reversing weight loss may therefore improve outcomes."