Parkinson's Disease Risks

Risk Factors for Parkinson's Disease

Age is the most notable risk factor for Parkinson's disease. It rarely occurs before middle age, with rates increasing as individuals get older. Men are also more likely to develop the disease than women. There is also a low hereditary risk for Parkinson's disease. If one or more close relatives have Parkinson's disease, you are at an increased risk for the disease, however the risk is still estimated to be less than five percent.^[2] Head trauma, including head injuries from sports such as boxing, have also been linked to the disease. A recent study showed that Parkinson's disease occurred 1.35 times more often individuals who had been knocked unconscious just once and 2.53 times more often in those who had been knocked out more than once. The same study also showed that people who had been exposed to high levels of pesticides were 1.41 times more likely to have the disease.^[4]