- Parkinson's disease sufferers could be adversely affected by the
growth of betting on the web because they are more likely to become
gambling addicts, says a doctor writing in today's BMJ.
Parkinson's disease is common. It is estimated to affect one in 200
people in the developed world. Dr Sui Wong says while the motor
symptoms and signs of Parkinson's disease are well recognised, the
behavioural disorders, such as problem gambling, are less well
known.

It is estimated that 3.5% of people with Parkinson's disease are
pathological gamblers. That figure rises to 7.2% if they are taking
drugs known as dopamine agonists. By comparison, in the general
population only 1% of people become pathological gamblers.

Characterised by excessive betting, pathological gambling is a
chronic and progressive mental disorder which can have devastating
effects. Dr Wong says her patients are often secretive about their
gambling and may end up thousands of pounds in debt before the
problem is discovered.

The reason for the greater incidence of pathological gambling among
users of dopamine agonists is unclear, says Dr Wong, as the drugs
should lessen the symptoms of Parkinson's. Many sufferers take
dopamine agonists in the early stages of the disease. They work by
directly stimulating the receptors in nerves in the brain which
normally would be stimulated by dopamine.

Dr Wong goes on to warn about the effect easy accessibility to
instant gambling on the internet could have on Parkinson's
sufferers. Nearly 5.8 million people, or one in ten online users,
log onto internet gambling sites each month. This figure is expected
to rise as more households connect to the internet.

Dr Wong says many internet gambling companies actively lure gamblers
with pop-ups to place free-bets. This proactive marketing technique
is pervasive and she warns it can make it hard for vulnerable
individuals to wean off gambling.

She says "the current debate on regulating gambling is relevant to
this group of patients. This provides an ideal opportunity to deal
with the problem through appropriate legislation to protect a small,
though highly vulnerable, group in our society."


20 Apr 2007(Medical News Today)