Some interesting facts about PD

1. The incidence of Parkinson's disease is increasing at a rate that is faster than the population is aging.

2. Parkinson's disease affects an estimated 1 in 1,000 people over age 55.

3. Parkinson's disease affects about 1 in 100 people age 65 and older.

4. Some 20 percent of people with Parkinson's disease may be diagnosed under the age of 50.

5. About 8 percent to 10 percent of people with Parkinson's disease may be diagnosed under the age of 40. Well-known people who have had or have Parkinson's disease include Pope John Paul II, Francisco Franco, Muhammad Ali, Yasir Arafat, Janet Reno, Sir Michael Redgrave, Adolf Hitler, Vincent Price, Morris Udall, Margaret Bourke White, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, and Michael J. Fox.

6. There has been excellent progress with research into the treatment of Parkinson's disease. This includes stem cell technology in which very basic cells are grown in the laboratory, and can be easily cultivated into large populations. Researchers have succeeded in turning these stem cells, in the laboratory, into dopamine producing nerve cells, like those cells in the substantia nigra of the brain that produce dopamine.

7. Human trials have already begun and been published using retinal epithelial cells, and human trials using stem cells for the treatment of Parkinson's disease should begin in the foreseeable future.

Intellectually, people with PD usually remain normal. But because speech and everyday tasks take longer to execute, it may appear that they lack comprehension or understanding - when actually they know exactly what they want to do but are unable to process their thoughts or actions in a timely manner.

(source: http://ehealthmd.com)


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