As a general guide, Parkinson's disease would seem to impact approximately a quarter of one percent of the general population and appears to impact older people with greater frequency, with around 90% of documented cases being determined in those over sixty years of age. Some 3% to 5% of people over sixty five will develop Parkinson's disease. Less than ten percent of new cases of Parkinson's disease are diagnosed in adults below age forty. Some research indicate an increased threat of the condition developing between sixty and seventy five years of age but that possibility appears to fall significantly after this age, especially after age eighty five. In fact, Parkinson's disease is almost never found in the very old, related to those aged one hundred.
However, potential incorrect diagnosis at this stage in time is a genuine concern given the lack of a definitive biological marker for the diagnosis of Parkinson's. It has been indicated that the number of people over age sixty who should be declared as suffering from some kind of Parkinsonism, is actually considerably greater than is currently acknowledged. For instance, some studies have indicated that people with mild Parkinson-like symptoms (that could be suggestive of early stage Parkinson's disease or conceivable due to other conditions) may be as high as fifteen percent in the age bracket 60-74 and thirty percent for anyone between seventy five and eighty four years of age. Whatever the true figure, with an ever growing global population coupled to an upward trend for life expectancy, the number of anticipated cases of Parkinson's in future generations is sure rise significantly. As an example, some studies have noted that the percentage will double in the next 40 years.
While we have discussed Parkinson's and the aspect of age, is it possible to observe variations in the probability of developing the condition based on race, hereditary and gender?
Once more, the outcome from scientific studies deviate, however at this time, it would appear that a person's hereditary play a more important part in those individuals that will develop Parkinson's disease at a young age. Those people who have close relatives (siblings or parents) that developed young-onset Parkinson's under age 40, seem to have an increased probability of developing the condition in comparison to the general population. This is also the situation for juvenile-onset Parkinson's with regards to persons who develop the disease below age 20. For those who have close family members who developed Parkinson's when elderly, the elevated risk to them of getting the condition would seem tiny. But the truth is, opinions do differ on this matter. Other studies have implied that if a close relative had/has the disease, the total heightened danger of developing Parkinson's is between two to five percent and even as high as 15% in the most extreme case.
Concerning the issue of gender, figures once more differs considerably between sources. Some research has implied that men seem to be at double the risk of Parkinson's disease than in comparison with women. Support for this is dervived from data that note women who've had hysterectomies have a higher rate of Parkinson's disease, and women who've had estrogen replacement therapy have a reduced risk of Parkinson's as compared to other women of comparative age. The presumption is that estrogen may play a role in protecting one's body from the chemical changes which develop in Parkinson's.
Other investigations have indicated that there is no difference between genders or alternatively that the figure is approximately a fifty percent escalated risk for men. Additionally, it has been suggested that the disease progresses more quickly in males and that males are more likey to experience tremor and rigidity, whilst females tend to be at greater threat of gait disturbances and shuffling. The fact is that common agreement concerning this point has not yet been reached.
The statistics available on the situation of race and Parkinson's risk are yet again variable. For example, some studies indicate that there is no difference whereas others suggest that Caucasians have a higher risk of Parkinson's compared with either African Americans or Asian Americans. Aditionally, a few studies have suggested that individuals of European descent appear most susceptible to typical Parkinson's, whereas non-Caucasians may be at an increased risk from a certain type of non-typical Parkinson's, associated with disturbance in judgment. The issue is further clouded with other research suggesting where variations are noticed, there would seem to be no distinction between race groups from similar locations.
Aside from Age, Hereditary, Gender and Race factors, the question of environmental factors such as toxins and pesticides are deserving of consideration. It would appear that these play a role in the potential for individuals aged over fifty years old. In addition, there appear to be various other factors that have an impact on increasing the risk of developing Parkinson's disease. For instance, exposure to certain bacteria and viruses or due to suffering head injuries or trauma. The complexity of the disease is highlighted further by the surprising statistics from certain research that suggest that individuals who drink coffee or smoke regularly tend to be at reduced threat of developing Parkinson's disease!
Posted in: Parkinsons
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