Identifying an accurate number of patients with Parkinson's disease is difficult, especially in the early stages of the disease. Many people attribute the early symptoms to the "aging process" and do not seek help from their physicians. Diagnosis also poses certain difficulties because other conditions present similar symptoms. Therefore, some of those people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease may not have the disease and conversely, those diagnosed with other disorders may actually have Parkinson's disease. Research estimates that about 1,500,000 Americans have Parkinson's disease, with approximately 50,000 new cases diagnosed each year in this country.
Parkinson's disease crosses almost all gender, economic, social and geographic boundaries. Slightly more men than women are diagnosed each year and a similar incidence is seen among all socioeconomic classes (the poor, mid-class and wealthy). Some studies have shown that Caucasians are more likely than African-Americans and Asians to develop Parkinson's disease, but no confirmed research has been established.
Age seems to be the most clear correlation with the disease, at least in the onset of symptoms. Parkinson's disease, in general, affects those over age 50, with the average onset being at age 60. Recently, either due to early recognition of symptoms or earlier onset of the disease, physicians have reported more cases of Parkinson's under age 40. Some physicians estimate the incidence under age 40 to have risen to 5 to 10 percent over the past several years.
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 6/12/2006
