Environment research
There is some evidence that environmental factors (toxins) may cause dopamine producing neurons to die, leading to the development of Parkinson's. Several toxins have been shown to cause Parkinson's-like symptoms. There may also be a link between use of herbicides and pesticides and the development of Parkinson's.At what age do people get Parkinson's?
The risk of developing Parkinson's increases with age, and symptoms often appear after the age of 50. Some people may not be diagnosed until they are in their 70s or 80s. However, in some cases Parkinson's is diagnosed before the age of 40, and this is known as young-onset Parkinson's disease. Younger people with Parkinson's often have different issues and needs. To reflect this, this website has a separate section aimed at covering these issues and needs.How is Parkinson's diagnosed?
Parkinson's tends to develop gradually and it can be a number of months or even years before the symptoms become obvious enough for a person to consult a doctor. It is not easy to diagnose Parkinson's, as there are no special tests that can prove whether or not someone has the condition. Diagnosis is usually based on medical history and a clinical examination of the person. The symptoms of Parkinson's can have other causes and laboratory tests and scans may be carried out to rule these out.Disease progression
The symptoms of Parkinson's usually begin slowly, develop gradually and in no particular order. It is important to remember that everyone with Parkinson's is very different and may have a different collection of symptoms and response to treatment. The nature and severity of symptoms and the rate at which the condition progresses will also be individual. The symptoms may take years to progress to a point where they cause major problems and when they do, many of these symptoms can be treated. There have been many advances in treatments for Parkinson's that can offer a much better quality of life to people with Parkinson's than was possible a few years ago. This trend is likely to continue.Is there a cure for Parkinson's?
At present there is no cure for Parkinson's, but researchers and scientist are steadily making advances in understanding the condition, its causes and how best to treat it. To find out more about research, visit the research area of this website, or to find out more about available treatments, please visit our treatments section.Will I die from Parkinson’s?
Parkinson's by itself does not directly cause people to die. With the treatment that is now available, life expectancy for someone with Parkinson's is fairly normal and none of the drugs that are used for Parkinson's have any serious side effects that could cause death. However, occasionally in people who are seriously disabled (usually those who have had Parkinson's for many years), their general physical and mental condition can either cause or exacerbate other illnesses and so contribute to the final cause of death.Is Parkinson's inherited?
There is no conclusive evidence that Parkinson's is a hereditary condition that can be passed on within families apart from in exceptionally rare cases. It is rare to find more than one person in a family who has Parkinson's, although occasionally it does seem to run in particular families. In most cases, the development is sporadic. What some researchers think is that although Parkinson's is not directly inherited, some people may inherit a genetic susceptibility to develop Parkinson's. This means people with this genetic susceptibility may be more likely to develop Parkinson's when combined with other factors such as environmental toxins or viruses. The role genetics may play in the development of Parkinson's disease is currently the subject of much research(published with permission in writing from:http://www.parkinsons.org.uk)
