FAQs

Parkinson’s disease itself is generally not fatal, but it can increase the risk of life-threatening problems like serious falls or pneumonia. Life expectancy for most people with Parkinson’s disease is comparable to the general population.

Parkinson’s disease is the second-most common neurological disorder after Alzheimer’s disease. It’s estimated that about 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s and the disease is thought to affect roughly 1% of adults older than 65.

Parkinson’s disease can affect many areas of the body. The disease is marked by motor symptoms that include slowed movement, rigidity, tremor, and balance problems. Parkinson’s also can cause a range of other issues including sleep problems, cognitive difficulty, constipation, loss of smell, and sexual dysfunction.

In the early stages of Parkinson’s, the symptoms are generally mild and don’t cause major problems with daily life. Motor symptoms usually affect just one side of the body in early stages of Parkinson’s. Some common early signs of Parkinson’s include tremor, arms not swinging normally while walking,…

In some cases, Parkinson’s is caused by mutations that can be passed from parents to their biological children, but for most people with Parkinson’s there is no family history or clear genetic cause. About 15% of people with Parkinson’s have a family history of the disease.

Every person with Parkinson’s disease has a unique experience with disease symptoms and treatment responses. Finding the ideal treatment for any one person often is a process that involves some trial and error — trying out different available therapies to find one or more treatments that are effective for…

All of the available treatments for Parkinson’s work to ease the disease’s symptoms. In addition to Parkinson’s-specific therapies that can help to control motor symptoms, a wide range of symptom-specific medicines may be helpful for dealing with nonmotor complications of the disease.

Levodopa and its derivatives are generally the most effective treatment for controlling the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s, though these medicines typically become less effective as the disease progresses. Their long-term use also can cause unpleasant side effects such as dyskinesia (uncontrolled movements). Other medications such as dopamine agonists…

Although there aren’t any medications that can slow or stop the progression of Parkinson’s disease, a variety of medicines are available that can help to ease disease symptoms.

There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, and there are no available treatments that have been proven to slow or stop the progression of the neurodegenerative disorder. However, a range of medications and other treatments are available that can help to ease the symptoms of Parkinson’s and make…