Young Onset Parkinson's Disesease, let's know about it !

WHAT IS EARLY ONSET PARKINSONS DISEASE?

When someone who is 21-50 years old receives a diagnosis of Parkinsons disease, it is referred to as early onset Parkinsons disease, or young onset Parkinsons disease. While the symptoms of the disease are mostly the same at whatever age it develops, younger people will experience the disease differently due to their unique life circumstances. Managing the disease can be particularly challenging for a younger person and their family from a medical, psychological and social standpoint.

What sets young onset Parkinsons apart from a diagnosis at an older age?

Because the majority of people who get Parkinsons disease are over the age of 60, the disease is often overlooked in younger people, leading many to go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for extended periods of time.

However, once it has been diagnosed, the rate of the diseases progression is usually much slower in younger than older people, due in part to the fact that younger people have fewer general health problems and are more capable during physical therapy treatment.

Who gets early onset Parkinsons disease?

About 10%-20% of those diagnosed with Parkinsons disease are under age 50, and about half of those are diagnosed before age 40. Approximately 60,000 new cases of Parkinsons are diagnosed each year in the United States, meaning somewhere around 6,000 – 12,000 are young onset patients.

Is it genetic or hereditary?

The cause of Parkinsons disease is not yet known. However, Parkinsons disease has appeared across several generations of some families, which could indicate that certain forms of the disease are hereditary or genetic. Many researchers think that Parkinsons disease may be caused by genetic factors combined with other external factors. The field of genetics is playing an ever greater role in Parkinsons disease research, and scientists are continually working towards determining the cause or causes of PD.

How you choose to treat your Parkinsons disease, and with whom, are likely to be some of the most important care decisions you will make.

Although there is no cure for Parkinsons at this time, Parkinsons medication, surgical options, and complementary therapies used to treat Parkinsons disease symptoms are continually improving. Your physician and other healthcare professionals can help you determine the best treatment plan for your symptoms.

Managing your symptoms with medication
Several classes of medications are available to treat Parkinsons symptoms. Carbidopa/Levodopa remains the most effective symptomatic therapy and may be used in combination with other classes of medications including Dopamine Agonists, COMT Inhibitors, MAO Inhibitors, and Anticholinergic agents. Treatment is highly individualized and is based on a number of factors including current symptoms, age, side effect profile, and a persons activity in daily living.

The surgical option: Deep Brain Stimulation

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical therapy that has been FDA approved for over a decade. DBS involves implanting an electrode into a targeted area of the brain, usually the subthalamic nucleus (STN) or the globus pallidus internus (GPI). The implants can be done on one side or both sides of the brain as needed. The electrodes are stimulated through a connection to a pacemaker like device located under the skin in the chest.

Treating Parkinsons with complementary & alternative medicine (CAM)

Some find that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) offers relief that other treatment options cant provide—things like:

Nutritional diet: a healthy diet can increase energy, maximize the potential of medications, and promote overall well-being.

Exercise: a proper exercise program can include cardiorespiratory exercise (fitness training), resistance exercises (strength training), flexibility exercises (stretching) and gait and balance training. Read more about exercise and Parkinsons in APDAs Be Active guide.

Yoga: according to the National Institutes of Health, which evaluates the use of complementary and alternative medicine every five years as part of its National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), yoga is among the leading alternative therapies in the United States. Tai chi and relaxation therapy are other related treatments.

Massage: patients often report that massage is a great way to manage their pain and/or stress. Receiving a massage is also a great way to provide stimuli to the legs, which is helpful in treating patients afflicted by Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS).

Natural medicines

Quite often, patients turn to complementary and alternative treatment in combination with other treatment options. Others turn to CAM to help them address some of the secondary symptoms of Parkinsons, such as constipation or fatigue. Some people pursue CAM in an effort to minimize the amount of medication they take and delay the long-term side effects like dyskinesia (involuntary movements) associated with some conventional medications.

Many individuals benefit from complementary and alternative therapies.

(source APDA American Parkinson Disease Association)