
My Parkinson’s symptoms already include all of the following areas:
(This was originally posted on my old blog on 8/3/2013.)
- Postural Instability
- Tremors of the hands
- Bradykinesia
- Rigidity
- Along with other issues including problems with swallowing
I am currently taking Sinemet 25/100 – 2 tablets/twice per day. Sinemet is a combination of Carbidopa and Levodopa (the two top medications mentioned on the infographic for treating Parkinson’s). I am doing really good on this medication. I do, however, appear to have only taken a placebo when I am sick and/or really stressed. Those occasions seem to nullify the benefits completely.
Parkinson’s Statistics:
- 500,000 people in the USA have Parkinson’s
- About 1% of all people over 50
- Average age of onset is 60 years old
- Percent of general population with Parkinson’s
- 65-69 years old = 0.5-1%
- 80+ years old = 1-3% (Other studies indicate around 5%.)
- Early Onset Parkinson’s represents 5-10% of Parkinson’s patients. (Some sources define Early Onset PD as including under 40 years when diagnosed, while others include patients up to 50 years old. I was personally diagnosed at 42 years old, but had active symptoms for several years before my diagnosis was achieved. Regardless of either definition, I consider myself to definitely be included in the Early Onset group.)
- Men are one and a half times more likely to have Parkinson’s than women.
- 50,000-60,000 new cases of Parkinson’s are diagnosed each year.