Hyderabad: Early onset of Parkinson’s is being seen in patients aged between 20 and 40 years according to clinical studies at the out-patient departments, experts said ahead of World Parkinson’s Day — April 11.
Of 10 persons reporting to the neurology department, doctors found two per cent suffering from early onset of Parkinson’s. The disease being progressive in nature, identifying it in young people is a big challenge, Dr Mohammed Ateequr
Rahman, interventional neurologist, said, “inability to balance one’s body, tremors, rigidity and cramps are some of the early signs of the disease. But when young patients are told they are suffering from a progressive degenerative disease, they are unable to take it. Due to this reason, treatment is neglected.
The only way to treat the disease is through medicines. Cognitive therapy helps in brain stimulation which has shown good results in young patients.” The incidence of the disease is 70 per 100,000 people among general population.
The average age for onset of the disease is 62 years but those who are diagnosed before 50 years are ‘young onset of Parkinson’s disease.’ Dr Radha Krishna, senior neurologist, said, “In almost 80 per of the cases afflicting the young, gene mutation is found to be a major reason. Twenty per cent could be due to exposure to chemicals, head injury, organic or industrial pollutants.”
