What is Young Onset Parkinson's Disease?

What is Young Onset Parkinson's Disease?
When someone who is 21-40 years old receives a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease it is referred to as "young onset" Parkinson's disease. Although most symptoms are the same at whatever age PD develops, managing the disease can be particularly challenging for a younger person and the person’s family – medically, psychologically and socially.
In general, young people tend to have a smoother course of the illness. Overall, the rate of the disease’s progression is usually much slower in younger than older people, which may be due in part to the fact that younger people tend to have fewer general health problems. Associated problems, such as memory loss, confusion and balance difficulties, also tend to be less frequent in young people with the disease. However, young people often have more involuntary movement problems due to the most commonly prescribed PD medication, levodopa. For this reason, young onset patients are usually treated initially with alternatives to levodopa.

What is Parkinson's Disease?
Parkinson's disease is a chronic progressive neurological disease that affects a small area of nerve cells (neurons) in an area of the brain known as the substantia nigra. These cells normally produce dopamine, a chemical (neurotransmitter) that transmits signals between areas in the brain that, when working normally, coordinate smooth and balanced muscle movement. It is now known that there are other areas of the brain that can be involved which results in non-motor symptoms. Parkinson's disease causes these nerve cells to die, and as a result, body movements and other functions are affected. We do not yet know what causes these cells to die. "Parkinsonism" is a term that is often used interchangeably with Parkinson's disease. Medically, Parkinsonism refers to any condition that causes symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease.

More info available on APDA's website: http://www.youngparkinsons.org/educationMainAbout.php#commonQuestions