It is impossible (as of today) to predict who will get Parkinson’s disease. Medical researchers still do not fully understand the causes of Parkinson’s. A combination of health factors both genetic and environmental may be the culprits. Men and women can be afflicted with Parkinson’s. The disease seems to know no social or geographic boundaries. Research results regarding whether certain ethnic groups or regions of the world are more susceptible to Parkinson’s disease are difficult to interpret in light of regional and ethnic variations in access to health care, perceptions of illness, and mortality. At this time it seems all people have the same chances of falling victim to Parkinson’s disease.    

Even age does not seem to be a good enough indicator as there is a wide variation. In very few cases, Parkinson’s has developed in individuals before the age of 20 and others not until after age 90. Many people over the age of 50 are most often afflicted by Parkinson’s. The average age of onset is 60. As physicians become more adapt at watching for and distinguishing signs of Parkinson’s disease, more cases of “early-onset” are being discovered. Most “early onset” is estimated to develop between the ages of 30 and 50 with an estimated 5 to 10 percent of known patients under the age of 40.

Signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can be attributed to other causes such as aging, exhaustion, stress, progressive supranuclear palsy, and the use of certain drugs. Since many other diseases have similar features, diagnosing the disease can be difficult. Neurological examination and sometimes brain scans can aide in making a precise diagnosis. Consult your neurologist for a neuropsychological consultation if you suspect certain signs of those related to Parkinson’s.