Parkinson's Disease Fact Sheet

  • Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement.
  • As many as 1 million Americans have PD.
  • About 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease each year.
  • The average age of onset is 60 years.
  • One in 10 people with PD are diagnosed before age 40.
  • The risk of developing PD increases with age.
  • Parkinson's disease is slightly more common in men than in women.
  • While there is no cure for PD, many different types of medicines can treat its symptoms.
  • Although it causes disability, PD does not appear to significantly shorten lifespan.

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