The median age at diagnosis I have most frequently heard is 57. If this is
true, one-half of our population is younger than 57 at diagnosis. Also, as
one who just happened to be diagnosed at 57, I know that I had
manifestations of the disease for six or seven years before diagnosis
("tennis elbow," right hand and arm colder than left in wintertime,
gradually increasing stiffness in fingers and right arm, slowing of
movement overall).
If this is typical, one could make the argument that the initial signs of
the disease are present some years before diagnosis, which would mean that
PD's symptoms appear, on average, at about age 50. So, one-half would be
diagnosed after age 50, but one-half would also be diagnosed BEFORE 50.
Anyway, at what age does one become "an older person?"
Bob Dolezal 63/6
