Nearly half of Parkinson’s patients are diagnosed before they turn 60

Parkinson Society of Canada (PSC) is the national voice of Canadians living
with Parkinson’s. Our purpose is to ease the burden and find a cure through
research, education, advocacy and support services.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disease which involves the
loss of cells in an area of the brain which produces a chemical called dopamine.
This compound enables the brain to control movement and other important physical
and cognitive functions.

It is estimated that approximately 100,000 people in Canada have Parkinson’s
and 6.3 million world wide. Parkinson’s is not just an old person’s disease.
Symptoms of Young Onset Parkinson’s can occur in people in their 20’s and 30’s
such as well known actor, Michael J. Fox.

Parkinson’s often strikes people during their most productive years – when
they are raising a family, building their career, caring for aging parents and
making a significant contribution to society. Approximately 50 per cent of Parkinson’s
patients are diagnosed with the disease prior to age 60.

Each and every case of Parkinson’s disease is unique, making it a very complex
disorder to tre. No two individuals experience the same set of symptoms, the
same order of onset or the same rate of degeneration. For most patients, the
symptoms of Parkinson’s include tremors, difficulty maintaining balance, rigidity
or stiffness in the limbs and/or trunk, general slowness of movement and pain.
Patients may also eventually have difficulty walking, talking, and completing
simple tasks like buttoning a shirt. Many patients with advanced Parkinson’s
are forced to use a wheelchair and eventually need to move into a long-term
care facility as they and their families are unable to care for themselves.

Brain disease and disorders like Parkinson’s disease are devastating for entire
families; they result in enormous loss of productivity; and they cost the Canadian
health care system more than $30 billion annually.

Over the next 20 years, brain disease and disorders will surpass both heart
disease and cancer to become the number one killer of Canadians.

April is National Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month across Canada. Visit
our website at www.parkinson.ca
to find out how you can help ease the burden and find a cure by working with
the PSC partner in your community.

-News Canada