Parkinson Disease
Claire B. Joseph
Abstract
Parkinson Disease is a chronic movement disorder of the nervous system that can cause tremor, slowness, stiffness, and walking and balance problems; constipation, depression, memory problems, and other non-movement symptoms can also be part of Parkinson’s. It is a chronic disorder whose symptoms slowly worsen over time, although the experience is unique to each person. It’s estimated that nearly 1 million people in the United States and more than 6 million people worldwide are affected by Parkinson’s, most of whom are over age 60 with the average age of onset at approximately 70 years. A small percentage of people have “early-onset” disease that can begin before the age of 50. There is no cure, but treatments can help to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.