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.
One clear risk is age: Although most people with Parkinson's first develop the disease after age 60, about 5% to 10% experience onset before the age of 50. Early-onset forms of Parkinson's are often, but not always, inherited, and some forms have been linked to specific alterations in genes.
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. People with Parkinson's are more likely to experience insomnia due to certain symptoms which can disrupt sleep.
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.
Scientists have not yet found a cure for Parkinson's disease, but medication can help relieve the symptoms and enable a person to live a full and active life.
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.
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. Approximately 500,000 Americans are diagnosed with PD, but given that many individuals go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed the actual number is likely much higher.
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.
Stage One. During this initial stage, the person has mild symptoms that generally do not interfere with daily activities. Tremor and other movement symptoms occur on one side of the body only. Changes in posture, walking and facial expressions occur.
To diagnose Parkinson's, a doctor will take a neurological history and perform an in-office exam. Although there are no standard diagnostic tests, some doctors may order imaging testing to help confirm a PD diagnosis in the early stages of the disease.
If you suspect you have Parkinson's, you should see a movement disorder specialist, who is a neurologist with specialized training in Parkinson's and other movement disorders. On examination, the doctor looks for slowness, stiffness and resting tremor — the movement symptoms of Parkinson's.
Average life expectancy with Parkinson's
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.
Michael J. 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.
Rapid-onset dystonia-parkinsonism (RDP) is a very rare movement disorder, characterized by the abrupt onset of parkinsonism and dystonia, often triggered by physical or psychological stress.
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.
Multiple system atrophy – the cousin of Parkinson's disease.
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a disease that mimics PD, particularly early in its course, but that comes with additional distinctive signs and symptoms. It is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder. Individuals with PSP may fall frequently early in the course of disease.
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.
“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.
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.
Though mild to moderate alcohol use does not increase the risk of Parkinson's, heavy drinking may. People with Parkinson's may develop worsening associated symptoms, such as depression or sleep issues, when consuming alcohol.
Available studies have shown that compared with healthy controls, patients with PD are accompanied by high rates of premature death. This is usually caused by factors such as pneumonia and cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases.