can any age get Parkinson's disease?

Question

can a young person get parkinson's or is it mostly older people?

Answer 1

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disease of the nervous system associated with trembling of the arms and legs, stiffness and rigidity of the muscles and slowness of movement (bradykinesia).

A third of those affected by the disease go on to develop senile dementia. Seriously affected patients may suffer from complications such as pneumonia, septicaemia (blood poisoning), stroke, urinary tract infection and pressure sores and some of these may be fatal.

What causes Parkinson's disease?

It is caused by the progressive loss of brain cells (neurones) in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra, which produces the chemical dopamine.

As the cells die, less dopamine is produced and transported to the striatum, the area of the brain that co-ordinates movement.

Symptoms develop as neurones die off and dopamine levels drop.

Research suggests Parkinson's sufferers may also lack other brain chemicals including serotonin (linked to mood), noradrenaline (linked to blood pressure control) and acetylcholine (linked to mental state).

Who is affected?

Parkinson's affects 8000-10,000 new people in the UK each year: on average one person in every 500 is affected by Parkinson's disease.

Most patients are over 40 and it very rarely affects people below this age (only 5 per cent). However, some people have developed Parkinson's in their teens.

The risk rises so that by the age of 80 more than two people per 100 of the population have developed some signs of the condition. Both sexes and all races appear to be equally affected.

Other risk factors may include:


pesticide and herbicide exposure


rural living


previous head injury


impairment of smelling capacity


obsessive personality


severe emotional trauma/stress.


In a small minority of patients Parkinson's may be inherited. These patients usually develop the disease under the age of 50. Two genes called alpha-synuclein and parkin have been linked to the disease, although others may also be involved. Their exact function is unknown and currently genetic tests for them are not routine, as most data remains experimental.

Answer 2

The Parkinson's Reversing Breakthrough?

Answer 3

Parkinson's isn't an Infectious Disease. People usually show symptoms between 50-60 but it can occur at an earlier age.

Answer 4

Parkinsons is a degenerative condition of the mind , who dramatic symptom are easily seen in the older patient. But onset can happen in not so old people. Look at Michael j. Fox....hes hardly old.

Answer 5

younger people can develop parkinsons to but i think its more common in older people. Have a look at this webiste for the parkinsons disease society

Answer 6

It is usually something people have when they are older but it is hard to tell as symptoms dont come all at once. Michael j fox had it young and first noticed his finger trembling and having little control over it and it gradually got worse. I read his book.

Answer 7

Cases of PD are reported at all ages, though it is uncommon in people younger than 40. The average age at which symptoms begin in the U.S.A. is 58-60

Answer 8

my mum was 34, its called young onset parkinsons. she is 67 now and still battling on

Answer 9

Any age can get it but most are over 40

Answer 10

Older people