Early Onset Parkinson’s Disease

Maybe you’ve heard of Parkinson’s Disease, but what do you know about early onset Parkinson’s? It is a variation of the disease that occurs earlier on in the lifetime. Here is a little more information to consider:

Early onset parkinson's disease, What is it?

Early onset Parkinson’s Disease is very similar to the more common diagnosis of Parkinson’s that generally occurs in people who are 60+ years old. Parkinson’s is a nervous system disorder that affects a number of different areas of the body, but they are all connected to movement, or trouble doing so. This neurodegenerative disease is discovered by a lower level of dopamine production within the body. Parkinson’s is different from case to case, but generally, it begins with a tremor or difficulty with fine motor skill based tasks and then stems from there over time. 15% of Parkinson’s patients have early-onset, so it is clearly less common (www.parkinsons.org).

How is it Different?

Early Onset Parkinson’s differs from regular Parkinson’s in a few ways. Obviously, it occurs earlier on in life. Generally, if you are diagnosed before the age of 50, you are considered to have early onset. In most cases, it progresses slower and less aggressively than regular Parkinson’s cases. The probability of finding effective treatments is more in favor of those who are diagnosed with it earlier on in life because they most likely have less health complications, greater muscle control/strength, an absence of mobility problems, and potentially stronger mental health.

What Causes it?

As of yet, there is not a known origin of the disease. Specialists have studied theories that have found a relationship between certain gene combinations and the disease, but nothing solid. Exposure to certain chemicals and toxins are another theory that would lead specialists to believe that there is a connection between the disease and specific working and living environments (mayoclinic.com). However, researchers do not have any solid evidence that would pinpoint the origin of the disease. There aren’t any true preventative measures to be taken in order to lower your risk for Parksinson’s, early onset or regular.

Who is Susceptible?

Since we don’t know the cause of Parkinson’s in general, how can we know who is the most susceptible to getting it? The research to support which gender or population is most likely to be diagnosed with it is scarce. The only information available is that men are more likely to develop it than women at any age and the chances of getting the early onset variety is much lower than the 60+ age group who get a standard Parkinson’s diagnosis.

What Treatments are Available?

There is not a specific cure per se for early onset Parksinson’s, or Parkson’s in general. There are treatment options, both medicinal and physical. Medications in low dosages are often enough to keep the symptoms under control and keep the patient’s quality of life as high as possible. Physical therapy is available to continue muscle use and flexibility, along with balance. Staying active throughout your lifetime is important, but the importance of being physically fit and capable become even more crucial after diagnosis. Speech articulation and clarity can decline throughout the course of the disease, so sooner or later, it is possible that the patient will need to seek assistance from a speech language pathologist to help modify their speech.

Life is Good.

Early onset Parkinson’s is an issue that is very near and dear to my heart, as one of the greatest role models in my life has been affected by it for about a year of diagnosed life, and three years of undiagnosed life prior to that. The hardest part about early onset Parkison’s is that it is harder to detect since the symptoms and lower dopamine levels are not as apparent as they are with older patients. The good news is that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Early onset Parkinson’s luckily has a pretty positive prognosis. It doesn’t shorten the lifespan, it simply adds a few hurdles to overcome over the course of aging. Most symptoms are manageable and do not affect everyday life indefinitely, they just take a few adjustments. With quality healthcare, limitless emotional support, and an understanding of the disease comes the opportunity to live a long, full life. Early onset Parkinson’s is certainly a lesser known disease with more limited research available, but it can only get better for those who have the disease. The medical world is evolving and the resources available to those living with Parkinson’s will only grow exponentially.

Early Onset Parkinson's Disease | Senior Living Link