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Phil Thompkins wrote: >As you point out, median age is different from average age. But the meaning of the phrase "median age" with which I am familiar is that age than which half of the population in question is older and half is younger. Phil, Janet, Marling I stand corrected, median age does indeed mean that age than which half the population is older and half is younger (its amazing what 1/2 an hour with a high school maths book can refresh in your memory). My apologies for confusing the issue. I see from Marling's response that the actual quote is "average age at time of diagnosis in the United States is now 57 years old". She goes on to say that "the handbook also stated that most people would have had symptoms of PD for up to 10 years before they were diagnosed." Taking 'average' to have its usual default meaning of 'mean' (as opposed to median or mode) there is no way the above statement can possibly be taken to mean that "... fully half of all Parkies are under 47 at onset and under 57 at diagnosis." Try as we might, there is no way we can alter the fact that young onset PD is still the exception rather than the rule. So - if we are going to change the public perception of a PWP to just what are we going to change it. To show a young onset PWP as the normal face of PD is even further from the truth than the present stereotype. Perhaps we should be looking at increasing public awareness of PD as a predatory, debilitating condition which changes your life at whatever age it strikes. It is the public perception that PD is not really serious that I believe we need to change. Dennis +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dennis Greene 48/11 "It is better to be a crystal and be broken, Than to remain perfect like a tile upon the housetop." [log in to unmask] http://members.networx.net.au/~dennisg/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++