Who Gets Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson's Disease affects generally elder adults,age.Parkinson's Disease seems to growth more
among about 90% of the known cases arequickly in men than women according to one study,
diagnosed in people over the age of 60. Within thatand another found a difference in the way that
population, there is a small amount of variance, withsymptoms present. Men are more prone to rigidity
the danger increasing from age 60 through age 75,and tremor, and women more at danger from gait
and then going down sharply. Currently, Parkinson'sdisturbance and shuffling.EthnicityCaucasians have a
Disease is known to affect about 3% of thehigher danger of developing Parkinson's Disease than
population over the age of 65. With present statisticseither African Americans or Asian Americans. People
and the probable aging of the population, authoritiesof European descent appear most prone to usual
think that that percentage will double in the next 40Parkinson's Disease, but some studies hint at that
years.When those with mild symptoms of Parkinsonsnon-Caucasians may be more at risk for a particular
(symptoms of Parkinson's Disease that may betype of non-typical Parkinsonis that causes a
caused by other things, or could develop intodisturbance in judgment.HeredityIn a small percentage
Parkinson's Disease), those numbers increaseof cases, family history may play a part in the
dramatically. 15% of those between the ages of 60inception of Parkinson's Disease. People who have
and 74 have been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.parents or brothers and sisters who had young-onset
Between the ages of 75 and 84, that percentageParkinson's Disease, in which symptoms develop
rises to almost 30%.However, when you look at it inbefore the age of 40, are more probable to develop
terms of inception of symptoms, the picture changes.Parkinson's Disease than others their age. When
Fewer than 10% of new cases of Parkinson's diseaseParkinson's Disease was diagnosed at older ages,
are diagnosed in younger adults - under age 40. Thefamily history looks like it's to play no part.Cigarette
majority of new diagnoses of Parkinson's disease areSmokersOddly, cigarette smokers appear to have a
made between the ages of 60 and 75. After age 85,diminished incidence of Parkinson's Disease, which has
the danger of developing Parkinson's Disease thenled researchers to explore the probability that
seems to fall off dramatically.What are the factorsnicotine may give some protection from the
that effect diagnoses?GenderMen appear to be atfluctuations caused by Parkinson's Disease. They are
greater risk of developing Parkinson's Disease thanquick to point out that the other health problems
women. Men have to deal with about double the riskassociated with cigarette smoking are far too
of developing Parkinson's Disease as women in anysignificant to think cigarette smoking as a way to
age group. Scientists think that estrogens may play aavoid getting Parkinson's Disease.Coffee
function in protecting the body from the chemicalDrinkersCaffeine also seems to have a protective
changes that occur in Parkinson's Disease. This isresult against Parkinson's Disease. A study of
further borne out by two facts - women who've hadJapanese-American men suggested that those who
hysterectomies have a somewhat higher rate ofcommonly drank coffee ran a lesser risk of
Parkinson's Disease, and women who've haddeveloping Parkinson's Disease than other men their
estrogen replacement therapy have a lower rate ofage. The more coffee they consumed, the lower the
Parkinson's Disease than other women theirrisk.