Parkinson's Awareness Month, which takes places every April, presents a unique opportunity for people to learn about the disease and how it affects the U.S. population. It's important to educated yourself on such a prevalent condition, one that impacts an estimated 1 million individuals throughout the country. While you may have an idea of well known facts like the symptoms involved, there's surprising information about the disease that can help you understand it better. Here are five lesser-known facts about Parkinson's:
1. There's no standard diagnostic test for Parkinson's.
The Parkinson's Disease Foundation explained that diagnosing Parkinson's can be challenging, as there are currently no blood or laboratory tests that can confirm that someone definitely has the disease. This may be why only 60,000 of the 1 million people who may be living with Parkinson's have been diagnosed. Instead of performing a standard diagnostic test for the disease, doctors will consider patients' neurological history and perform an examination that involves observing their expressions, ligaments for tremors, balance and muscle stiffness. Once other possible illnesses are ruled out, the doctor arrives at a Parkinson's diagnosis.
2. Researchers are still fighting to find a cause.
Currently, there's no cure or known cause of Parkinson's. However, the latest research shows that it's likely that genetics play a large role in the development of the condition, according to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. Recent studies have even shown that people with a first-degree relative - a sibling or parent - who has been affected by Parkinson's has a up to a 9 percent increased chance of developing the disease at some point in their lives compared to individuals with healthy family members, explained care management organization eCaring.
While there's no cure, therapies have come a long way over the years. In addition to oral medications that alleviate many of the disease's symptoms, there are speech, occupational and movement therapies available along with surgeries like deep brain stimulation.
3. People of all ages can develop Parkinson's.
While the vast majority of those diagnosed with Parkinson's are over 50 years old, the disease can impact people of all ages. In fact, even children can develop the condition. The National Parkinson's Foundation noted that about 2 percent of the 1 million people affected by the progressive movement disorder are under the age of 40 and that most - about 65 percent - of this small percentage are under 20 years old.
4. Men are almost twice as likely to develop Parkinson's as women.
Over the past few years, several studies have shown that men are more vulnerable to developing Parkinson's compared to women. The Parkinson's Disease Foundation explained that studies covering populations from around the world, including the U.S. China, Poland, Italy, Spain and Finland, found that men were 1.5 times as likely to develop the condition. Although researchers have yet to confirm why this may be, some studies suggest that women may be less at risk due to the potential protective effect of the female hormone oestrogen on the nervous system. The X male chromosome may also be more susceptible to the disease.
5. People with Parkinson's often experience nonmotor symptoms.
Parkinson's disease is characterized by four main symptoms, including tremors in the arms, hands, legs or jaw, chronic muscle stiffness, impaired coordination and slow movement. While the majority of patients experience these side effects, there are also nonmotor symptoms that aren't as commonly associated with the condition. For example, many individuals report noticing sleep disturbances, fatigue, constipation, mood disorders, anxiety, depression and urinary problems. These side effects are often what bother Parkinson's patients the most, impacting their ability to perform daily activities.
Source: Sunrise Senior Living