AlthoughParkinson’s diseaseis much more common in people who are older than age 50, it can affect people of all ages, including even children and teenagers.
Also, just because you’re older, it doesn’t mean you’ll get Parkinson’s – most people never get it. Your age is only one factor in your risks for the condition.
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Average Age of Parkinson’s Diagnosis
Parkinson’s disease is a brain condition that causesshaking, problems withbalanceand coordination, and stiffness in your arms and legs. There’s no cure for it, but there are treatments that can help with your symptoms, so an early diagnosis is important.
Doctors believe that most people start to show signs of Parkinson’s disease sometime in middle age. The average age for someone to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s is around 60 years old.
Parkinson’s Disease Facts and Statistics: What You Need to Know
Parkinson’s Before Age 50
When someone is diagnosed with Parkinson’s before their 50th birthday, they have what’s called “early onset Parkinson’s disease.” Only about 5% to 10% of everyone with Parkinson’s has the early-onset form of the disease.
Only about 2% of those diagnosed with Parkinson’s are under the age of 40. However, it’s possible that primary care doctors may overlook some people in that age group who actually have Parkinson’s since it’s so unusual to have it so young.
A very few people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s before their 20th birthdays. In these cases, the condition is called “juvenile Parkinson’s disease,” and it tends to run in families. Researchers have identified several genes that are linked to Parkinson’s.
People with early-onset Parkinson’s disease are more likely to have genetic factors that caused their condition. In addition, certain treatments – includingexercise– may be more likely to help younger people with Parkinson’s.
SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Parkinson’s Disease Backgrounder fact sheet.National Institutes of Health NIHSeniorHealth. Parkinson’s Disease fact sheet.National Parkinson Foundation. Young-Onset Parkinson’s fact sheet.
Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Parkinson’s Disease Backgrounder fact sheet.National Institutes of Health NIHSeniorHealth. Parkinson’s Disease fact sheet.National Parkinson Foundation. Young-Onset Parkinson’s fact sheet.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Parkinson’s Disease Backgrounder fact sheet.National Institutes of Health NIHSeniorHealth. Parkinson’s Disease fact sheet.National Parkinson Foundation. Young-Onset Parkinson’s fact sheet.
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