Company Press Release
SOURCE: The National Parkinson Foundation, Inc.
The National Parkinson Foundation States Parkinson's
Disease Becoming More Prevalent Among the 'Young'
Young Onset Patients Have Special Needs
MIAMI, Nov. 25, 1998 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the National Parkinson
Foundation (NPF), Parkinson's disease has been labeled ``a disease of
the elderly,'' but statistics don't support this. The average age of
onset is currently estimated to be about 55, with 15 percent of patients
diagnosed below the age of 50. Recently, NPF medical experts have
confirmed the diagnosis of two individuals under the age of 13.
Parkinson's often goes unrecognized in the young for several years after
symptoms first appear because doctors don't expect to find PD in people
who are in their thirties or forties. Thus, it is important that any
individuals displaying the symptoms of Parkinson's disease be seen by a
neurologist specializing in movement disorders for further diagnosis and
treatment.
The National Parkinson Foundation recognizes that young-onset
Parkinson's patients have special needs. These individuals often have
children to raise, jobs to keep as well as other issues they must
address that are different than those patients in retirement years. The
first hurdle for the young person is to accept the diagnosis, get a
realistic idea as to what to expect and make plans for the future that
will help him or her cope with the ailment.
National Parkinson Foundation experts, in their experience working with
people with Parkinson's and their families, have learned that it is very
important that patients implement a comprehensive disease management
program to help maintain independence and quality of life. This
management program should include physical, occupational and speech
therapies in addition to traditional medical treatments.
``Parkinson's disease is a progressive, life-altering disorder;
individuals diagnosed at an early age can expect to suffer more
complications because they will live longer with the disease,'' stated
Dr. Abraham Lieberman, national medical director, NPF.
``However, the good news is that there have been many new advances in
the treatment of Parkinson's disease in the last
decade; several new drugs for treatment were approved this year alone.
With continued research, I am hopeful of finding a cure
within the next decade.''
NPF has recently re-written most of the Foundation's educational
literature to also address the needs of the young-onset
patient. This literature is available free of charge to anyone who calls
NPF's toll-free number, 1(800)327-4545.
What is Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease is a slowly progressive neurological disorder which
has debilitating effects on a patient's ability to control
voluntary movement. Symptoms of Parkinson's disease generally include
tremor, stiffness of muscles (rigidity), slowness of
movement (bradykinesia) and loss of balance (postural dysfunction).
Other symptoms of Parkinson's disease include loss of
recent memory (dementia), depression, lessened facial expression and
smiling (masked face), freezing episodes or difficulty in
walking, loss of voice power and small crowded handwriting. Not every
person with Parkinson's disease will have the same
symptoms. Symptoms appear slowly and in no particular order.
Currently, over 1 million people in the United States alone suffer from
this debilitating disease, and each year nearly 60,000 new
cases are diagnosed. There is no cure, but there is hope through
research.
Who is the National Parkinson Foundation?
The National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) is the largest organization
serving people with Parkinson's disease and their families
worldwide. NPF's mission is to find the cause and cure for Parkinson's
disease and allied neurological disorders through
research; to educate general medical practitioners to detect the early
warning signs of Parkinson's disease; to educate patients,
their caregivers and the general public; to provide diagnostic and
therapeutic services and to improve the quality of life for both
patients and caregivers.
--
Judith Richards, London, Ontario, Canada
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