-PD is not considered to be a fatal disease by itself, but it progresses with time. The average life expectancy of a PD patient is generally lower than for people who do not have the disease. Parkinson's disease is rarely the direct cause of death; more commonly, people die from complications associated with PD rather than from the disease itself.
- In the late stages of the disease, PD may cause complications such as choking, pneumonia, and falls that can lead to death.
-With appropriate treatment, most people with PD can live productive lives for many years after diagnosis. There are some indications that Parkinson's disease acquires resistance to drug treatment by evolving into a Parkinson-plus disorder, usually Lewy Body Dementia, although transitions to Progressive Supranuclear Palsy or Multiple System Atrophy are not unknown.