Symptoms vary from patient to patient and appear slowly and in no particular order. Symptoms usually appear between the ages of 50 and 70, but can occur earlier or later in life. Many years may pass before early symptoms progress to the point where they interfere with normal activities.
Diagnosis is made on medical history and physical findings.
PD is one of the most common neurologic conditions, occurring in about 1 in 1000 individuals. PD is seen in both sexes and among all races and ethnic groups. PD is caused by the degeneration loss of nerve cells in a section of the brain called the substantia nigra. This part of the brain normally produces and stores a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is used by the brain to act as a messenger between cells.