Young onset Parkinson's disease is Parkinson's disease developing in a person under 40 years of age. This form of the disease is relatively rare, appearing in around 10% of patients with Parkinson's, and juvenile onset, where the disease appears in someone under 21, is even more unusual. The progress of the condition varies from patient to patient and there are a number of treatments available to manage the Parkinson's, although it cannot be cured.
In all forms of Parkinson's, damage appears in the area of the brain responsible for making dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of movement, as well as concentration and memory formation. In a patient with young onset Parkinson's, the first sign of the disease is often dystonia, where the extremities stiffen and pull into awkward positions. Tremors can also appear, although they tend to be less severe than in older patients, as can postural instability and difficulty walking. Slow movements, another hallmark of Parkinson's disease, can also be seen in young onset Parkinson's.
Patients often experience sleep disturbances, along with difficulty remembering things and trouble concentrating. One concern with young onset Parkinson's is an increased risk of depression. Depression tends to be more severe in young Parkinson's patients than in older adults with Parkinson's disease. Some researchers have theorized that the depression is caused by fear and worry about the future, which tend to be exacerbated when younger people are diagnosed with conditions more typically associated with older adults. Fear and anxiety may increase the severity of depression.
For the Parkinson's itself, medications are available to treat the movement disorders and some patients benefit from physical therapy. Surgery is an option for extreme cases. Complications like depression and difficulty sleeping can be treated with options like therapy, antidepressant medications, and sleeping pills designed to help patients get to sleep more easily and stay asleep for more extended periods of time.
People diagnosed with young onset Parkinson's can access disability benefits and accommodations as the disease progresses. Thinking ahead to do things like modifying a home to make it easier to use for people with mobility impairments is recommended so people can age in their homes with the disease, and it can also be helpful to receive training in using devices like canes designed to help people with instability. People can even take classes in things like cane self defense if they're interested in staying active and training their bodies to adapt to the physical changes associated with young onset Parkinson's disease.
