What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that primarily affects movements such as walking and writing. It was first described in 1817 by James Parkinson, and the disease was named after him. Since then, a number of major advances in treatment mean that it is now possible to improve the course and outcomes of the condition and effectively manage the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease^1,2.

Parkinson’s disease affects about 4 million people throughout the world. It is usually seen in people over the age of 50 years, but young people can also develop the disease. When young people between the ages of 21 and 40 years develop Parkinson’s, it is called ‘young onset Parkinson’s disease³.