Following Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second-most common neurodegenerative disorder in the United States. Most people diagnosed with PD are age 60 years or older, however, an estimated 5 to 10 percent of people with PD are diagnosed before the age of 50.
The main risk factor is age, because Parkinson's disease is most commonly found in adults over the age of 50 (although diagnoses can occur in much younger people). Men also have a higher risk of Parkinson's disease than women.
Parkinson's disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in the part of the brain called the substantia nigra. Nerve cells in this part of the brain are responsible for producing a chemical called dopamine.
Tremors, muscle stiffness and slowness of movement are all common early symptoms of Parkinson's – but there are also other signs to be aware of. Sleep and night-time problems are common in Parkinson's.
It's possible for non-motor symptoms to start occurring up to a decade before any motor symptoms emerge. Years can pass before symptoms are obvious enough to make a person to go to the doctor.
While people are diagnosed with Parkinson's at an average age of 60, anything younger than 50 is considered young-onset Parkinson's, or YOPD.
It should be noted that the life expectancy of Parkinson's disease can be normal or near normal. However, a number of factors can shorten life expectancy. According to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, patients usually live between 10 and 20 years after diagnosis.
Medical experts believe that environmental causes may help trigger Parkinson's disease. Exposure to farming chemicals, like pesticides and herbicides; Vietnam-era exposure to Agent Orange; and working with heavy metals, detergents and solvents have all been implicated and studied for a clearer link.
Because the cause of Parkinson's is unknown, there are no proven ways to prevent the disease. Some research has shown that regular aerobic exercise might reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease.
Research suggests that stressful life events may increase the risk of Parkinson's disease. In addition, animal studies indicate that stress damages dopamine cells, resulting in more severe parkinsonian symptoms. In humans, acute stress can worsen motor symptoms, including bradykinesia, freezing, and tremor.
PSP is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease, especially early in the disorder, as they share many symptoms, including stiffness, movement difficulties, clumsiness, bradykinesia (slow movement), and rigidity of muscles. However, PSP progresses more rapidly than Parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's disease has movement and non-movement symptoms. If you have more than a few of the early Parkinson's signs, don't delay making an appointment to talk to your doctor. With early detection, treatment, and expert care, you can live a long, productive, and meaningful life with Parkinson's.
These nerve cells die or become impaired, losing the ability to produce an important chemical called dopamine. Studies have shown that symptoms of Parkinson's develop in patients with an 80 percent or greater loss of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra.
Many researchers now believe that Parkinson's results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors, such as exposure to toxins.
Berries, green leafy vegetables, eggs, fish and oil have neuroprotective properties which can reduce cognitive decline and improve memory function. Yogurt, kefir and raw sauerkraut, natural probiotics, can also increase natural dopamine production.
Most people with Parkinson's disease have a normal or near-normal life expectancy. Modern medications and treatments mean that people can manage their symptoms and reduce the occurrence or severity of complications, which might otherwise be fatal.
However, some studies have identified cases where Parkinson's disease symptoms disappear. In one study, a 78-year-old man experienced a remission of all symptoms 16 years after his diagnosis. Although full remission is very rare, it can happen in some cases.
On average, people with Parkinson's die about 16 years after they're diagnosed or begin to show symptoms. Those who are diagnosed at a very young age, such as around age 30, may live longer periods of up to 40 years with the disease.
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disease, yet most people with PD are capable of living well for many years with a good care management plan.
Fox says he's suffered numerous injuries as a result of his Parkinson's. Michael J. Fox has suffered from a number of injuries as a result of his Parkinson's disease, which he was diagnosed with in 1991 at age 29, the actor revealed in an interview with Variety this week.
If a person receives a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease before the age of 50 years, this is called early onset Parkinson's disease. The person may have the hallmark symptoms of tremor, rigidity, and slowness of movement, but confusion and balance problems are less likely than with a later diagnosis.
In most cases, symptoms change slowly, with substantive progression taking place over the space of many months or years. Many people with PD have symptoms for at least a year or two before a diagnosis is actually made. The longer symptoms are present, the easier it is to predict how a person with PD will do over time.
“Movement, especially exercises that encourage balance and reciprocal patterns [movements that require coordination of both sides of your body], can actually slow progression of the disease,” she says.