What is Parkinsons Disease?
Q. A. Usually diagnosed based on patient's medical history and a physical. Q. A. Men are one and a half times more likely to have Parkinson's than women. The disease affects people of all ethnicities and is present all over the world. And while the risk of developing the disease increases with age, it shouldn't be thought of as an old age disease because young people get it too. The best example of this is Michael J. Fox. Q. A. Progression is very individual but is generally slow. Q. A. Right now the best medical treatments are medications that replace Dopamine. There are other medications but the main drug is Levodopa. Physical therapy and exercise are also key. In more advanced cases, some patients have deep brain stimulation surgery, which treats the tremors and complications of therapy and improves most of the symptoms. Source: Dr. Stewart Factor, director of Emory University School of Medicines Comprehensive Parkinsons Disease Center