Frequently Asked Questions

Parkinson’s disease can’t be cured, but medications can help control your symptoms, often dramatically. In some more advanced cases, surgery may be advised. Your doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes, especially ongoing exercise.

In most cases, symptoms change slowly, with substantive progression taking place over the space of many months or years. Many people with Parkinson’s Disease have symptoms for at least a year or two before a diagnosis is actually made. The longer symptoms are present, the easier it is to predict how a person with Parkinson’s Disease will do over time.

A : While a Parkinson’s diagnosis can be devastating at any time of life, being diagnosed with the disease at an early age can significantly impact a young person’s quality of life and that of their family. Currently, there is no cure for the disease

A: Parkinson’s may lead to a deterioration of all brain functions and an early death.

A : Parkinson’s disease doesn’t kill you. Symptoms it causes can lead to problems that do – such as problems with swallowing leading to choking and pneumonia, or falling and breaking a bone or hitting the head, and then never fully recovering.

A : Treatment for each person with Parkinson’s is based on his or her symptoms. Treatments include medication and surgical therapy. Other treatments include lifestyle modifications, like getting more rest and exercise.

A : In some cases where a person with Parkinson’s disease is not responding well to medication, they may be offered treatment through surgery. There are a few surgical options, but the most common surgery for Parkinson’s disease is deep brain stimulation (DBS).

A : The biggest risk factor for developing Parkinson’s is advancing age and long term exposure to certain pesticides and herbicides. The average age of onset is 60. Gender. Men are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than women.