It sounds really frustrating, and after 20 years of navigating Parkinson's together, noticing these changes can feel especially hard. What you're describing could be related to a few things connected to Parkinson's.
After a long time with Parkinson's, the disease can affect facial muscles and overall motor control, which Show Full Answer
It sounds really frustrating, and after 20 years of navigating Parkinson's together, noticing these changes can feel especially hard. What you're describing could be related to a few things connected to Parkinson's.
After a long time with Parkinson's, the disease can affect facial muscles and overall motor control, which can include the muscles around the eyes. This is sometimes called "facial masking" — where the face becomes less expressive and harder to read. Keeping eyes closed can be part of this.
There are a few possible reasons this might be happening:
- Facial masking — reduced control over facial muscles, including eyelids
- Fatigue — Parkinson's can cause significant tiredness, making it hard to stay visually engaged
- Cognitive changes — after many years, Parkinson's can affect focus and processing, which may explain why conversations feel less connected
- Medication effects — some Parkinson's medications can cause drowsiness It's really worth bringing this up with his neurologist. They can assess whether it's related to his current medications, disease progression, or something else that might be manageable.
A speech-language pathologist or specialized rehabilitation program may also help with facial movement and communication. You're not alone in finding this difficult — many caregivers on MyParkinsonsTeam share similar experiences.
July 11
Join
Your Privacy Choices
