Parkinson's Disease Definition

What is Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that causes problems with movement.^[1][2] There are four main symptoms: tremor (or shaking of the hands, arms, legs, jaw or head), stiffness of the limbs and trunk, slowness of movement, and impaired balance. These symptoms start very gradually and grow worse with time. People with the disease eventually have trouble with walking, talking and completing simple tasks. These symptoms are similar to those in other diseases so they may not always indicate someone has Parkinson's disease.

Many researchers believe that the disease develops due to both genetic mutations that may increase the likelihood of getting the disease plus one or more environmental triggers. People with one or more close relatives with the disease have a greater risk of developing the disease. There is no cure for Parkinson's disease. By itself, it is not fatal, but complications such as choking, pneumonia or falls may lead to death.

Incidence of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease affects about one million people in the United States.^[3] It affects all races but occurs slightly more often in whites. Men are more likely to develop the disease than women. The disease usually starts around age 60 and seldom occurs in people younger than 30. One of every 20 people over age 80 has Parkinson's disease.