Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive disease in which the body doesn’t make enough dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, or “chemical messenger,” responsible for normal body movements. The loss of brain cells that produce dopamine leads to motor issues, such as tremor, slowed movements and loss of balance and coordination.
Percent of people over 60 years old who have Parkinson’s Disease
Percent of cases that are considered early onset, meaning symptoms begin before age 50
There are a variety of risk factors for Parkinson’s, including those related to your age and environment.
Your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease increases with age, and about 1% of people over 60 years old have Parkinson’s disease. Although it more commonly affects older people, about 10% of cases are considered early onset, meaning symptoms begin before age 50.
Parkinson’s affects more men than women, and having a relative with Parkinson’s disease might mean you may have a slightly higher risk of developing it. However, your risk is still low unless you have many relatives with the disease. Environmental toxins, such as ongoing exposure to pesticides and herbicides, may also be a risk factor.
The first symptom many people notice is a subtle tremor in their hands. However, research has found that Parkinson’s disease can actually begin years or even decades before motor problems start. By the time motor-related symptoms appear, people with Parkinson’s disease have already lost 50% of a specific type of dopamine cell found in the brain. They may also have experienced non-motor symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, sudden body movements or vocalizations, mood changes, anxiety, constipation and loss of smell.
This disease can progress to other parts of the body and increase in severity, leading to a loss of functional independence. Symptoms can include: trembling of hands or limbs, which typically starts on one side; trouble making facial expressions; quieter voice volume; rigid muscles; slowness or “freezing” of movement; impaired balance or coordination; depression or mood issues; sleep problems; and difficulty walking, completing tasks or remembering things.
People with Parkinson’s disease can be more susceptible to illness and infection, and when they do get sick, it can cause their Parkinson’s symptoms to worsen.
Diagnosis is based on medical history and a physical and neurological exam. Because Parkinson’s disease can resemble other brain disorders, it can be challenging to make a definitive diagnosis and pinpoint a specific treatment.
There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but medications can help relieve or control the symptoms by enhancing dopamine function. Levodopa, a medication that helps nerve cells in the brain make dopamine, has been the main choice of treatment for more than 50 years. While medications can be helpful, over time many people may experience periods when the medication “wears off” and no longer controls their symptoms, leading to motor fluctuations or involuntary movements.
If adjusting the dose or timing of medication doesn’t help, some patients may benefit from a surgical treatment option called deep brain stimulation (DBS). With this treatment, a transmitter device implanted under the skin sends electrical signals through a wire to electrodes implanted in the brain, helping to improve symptoms and reduce involuntary movements. More recently, infusion therapies have also been used to provide a continuous flow of medication.
Exercise, in conjunction with other rehabilitation therapies and medication, can help mobility and quality of life by increasing strength, boosting mood and improving balance. Regular exercise can also improve thinking, learning and memory through neuroplasticity, which is the way the brain forms and organizes connections.
Be sure to work with your doctors to develop the best treatment plan for you.
More research needs to be done to better understand many aspects of Parkinson’s disease, including the cause of the progressive loss of dopamine-producing brain cells and the development of drugs that can prevent this degeneration.
James Curtis, PhD, who received a Next Generation Research Grant from the American Brain Foundation, is looking at a common complication of Parkinson’s: swallowing difficulties. Doctors call this disorder dysphagia, and it can reduce a patient’s quality of life. It can also lead to pneumonia—the leading cause of death for Parkinson’s patients.
Dr. Curtis is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Columbia University and is working to develop a more effective treatment for dysphagia specifically for Parkinson’s patients and others suffering from other movement disorders.
We need your help to continue to fund brain research projects and find cures. Stand with us in the fight against brain diseases and disorders.
Explore more brain disease information, research, and stories.
Discover the latest news in brain disease research, hear stories from people affected by brain disease and their caregivers, read up on brain disease-specific information, and more.
Orlena was driving with her young daughter in the car when she suffered a stroke because of a rare brain vessel disorder called Moyamoya. After two brain surgeries and six months unable to care for her daughter, Orlena began to reclaim her independence and became a Moyamoya advocate.
Read More of Orlena’s Story
At 15 years old, Zoe has been navigating her Tourette syndrome diagnosis for eight years. “I had to figure out at a young age how my emotions affect my tics, from good to awful ways. It has been frustrating to figure out on my own and learn to deal with. This was the first moment in my life where my parents couldn’t fix something for me.”
Read More of Zoe’s Story
Sasha was diagnosed with epilepsy after sustaining a soccer-related brain injury in high school. Since then, Sasha has worked to find both a treatment that controlled her seizures and a career that fulfilled her desire to care for others. “Life isn’t meant to be lived taking multiple medications and having seizures you can’t control.”
Read More of Sasha’s Story
Before frontotemporal lobe dementia, sometimes called Pick’s disease, Ken Keene Sr. was a respected community member and a handyman who could fix anything. For his oldest son and namesake Ken Keene Jr., there was nothing his father couldn’t do: “To my family, he was just that super dad. Then all of a sudden he’s reaching out for help.”
Read More of Ken’s Story
It started with a twinge. After a simple surgery and some physical therapy, Morgan wasn’t getting better. It took two more surgeries before she was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) type II.
Read More of Morgan’s Story
In 2018, Kelly was diagnosed with glioblastoma after an MRI confirmed that a golf-ball-sized tumor above her right ear was affecting the left side of her body. After surgery to remove the tumor, Kelly was able to get through her darkest days with a healthy dose of humor. Now she is an advocate for other patients living with strokes and brain tumors.
Read More of Kelly’s Story
When her father was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2005, Nancy quickly shifted into the role of his caregiver. Nancy and her sisters drew from their individual strengths to provide their father with medical assistance and emotional support until his passing in 2012. At that time, he was diagnosed again with Lewy body dementia. “No matter what your financial situation, there’s probably going to be help out there… Just don’t do it alone, because burning yourself out is not going to help anybody.”
Read More of Nancy’s Story
Maureen worked as a high school English teacher until she started experiencing a confusing array of symptoms that affected her ability to work, along with her relationships with family and friends. After visiting numerous specialists for years, Maureen received a delayed diagnosis of Lewy body dementia. Now Maureen wants to raise awareness about what life is like with living with this disease. “I felt that I just wanted to offer something to this community that I hadn’t been able to find really.”
Read More of Maureen’s Story
For the first 32 years of his life, Joey experienced seizures from epilepsy. For several years, Joey worked hard in his career as a pipe welder and in construction until his seizures started happening more frequently and intensely. Brain surgery became Joey’s only viable option for treatment. Doctors were unsure if Joey would be able to survive after finding more brain damage than expected, but he surprised everyone by thriving during his post-surgery recovery.
Read More of Joey’s Story
At age 40, Ben was perfectly healthy and active until he started noticing the early symptoms of a neurological condition that weakened his physical movements. After a 2-year search for his diagnosis of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, he began his journey as an advocate for others living with rare diseases. Last year, Ben joined the board of the American Brain Foundation to further his impact.
Read More of Ben’s Story
In 2002, while her young daughter battled a fatal diagnosis of pons glioma, Michele experienced a life-threatening brain hemorrhage when a brain malformation she likely had since birth ruptured. She experienced drastic changes in the way her brain functioned, especially in regard to memory and spatial awareness. Today, Michele is still learning to adjust. “When someone’s brain is not functioning correctly it impacts everything in their life. It impacts how they think, how they feel about themselves, it’s a very hopeless space to be in as a person.”
Read More of Michele’s Story
Matt is a husband, father, and professional photographer. Over the past 11 years, he has had surgeries and radiation to remove five benign brain tumors. Following the third surgery, he began to experience more struggles in his daily life. “I think the biggest loss is my relationship to my family. They saw me as the dad and strong. Now they can’t count on me as much. It’s important to support people with brain disease ‘cause it can happen to anybody.’”
Read More of Matt’s Story
When she was in her early 30’s, Mary Jo’s relationship with her parents was forever altered by brain disease. Her father suffered a subdural hematoma, was diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy, and experienced a stroke while her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia. “They’re a responsibility that I have to take care of as they have taken care of me.”
Read More of Mary Jo’s Story
Tom suffers from dystonia, a painful neurological movement disorder with no known cure. When he first started experiencing strange pains and cramps in his neck muscles, he saw chiropractors and physical therapists—but when this didn’t help, Tom started down a long and painful road to an eventual diagnosis. Before his diagnosis at 30 years old, Tom was an athlete and an entrepreneur, but as his symptoms worsened, even performing everyday tasks became a challenge. Before long, the pain became debilitating. Over time, Tom learned to accept his new limitations and focus on his physical and mental health.
Read More of Tom’s Story