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Parkinson's Disease in Children

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, Parkinson's disease is a condition that causes tremors, usually in people over 50 years old. However, in some cases, this disease can also affect young adults and, albeit rarely, children. Usually, if the patient is young, the disease runs in the child's family. Learning about how Parkinson's disease attacks a child's body can help families control the symptoms, giving the child the most fulfilling life possible, even though Parkinson's disease cannot be cured.

  1. Terminology

    • Parkinson's disease that occurs before the age of 50 is typically known as "early onset" Parkinson's disease. When a patient shows signs of the disorder before the age of 20, it is called "juvenile Parkinson's disease."

    Early Symptoms

    • According to the Worldwide Education and Awareness for Movement Disorders (WE MOVE), many child patients initially are diagnosed after showing signs of lower limb dystonia, or involuntary contractions of the muscles. Other symptoms that appear early include slow movements (bradykinesia), tremors and rigid muscles. As the disease progresses, children may have balance problems, speech difficulties (dysarthria) and an inability to move facial muscles well.

    Treatment

    • WE MOVE reports that many patients with juvenile Parkinson's disease respond well to L-dopa (Levadopa), the same medication that adults use. L-dopa, according to the "New York Times," is converted to dopamine when it reaches the brain, and it helps with rigidity and movement slowness. It is less effective for problems with gait, tremors and balance. L-dopa can also possibly slow degeneration of brain cells.

    Link to Drug Abuse

    • Although heredity is the most common cause for Parkinson's disease in children, a study at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has linked drug use in parents to the development of the disease in both adults and children. Specifically, women who abuse cocaine while pregnant put their children at risk for Parkinson's disease.

    Other Diseases

    • In children, Parkinson's disease can appear alone or with other disorders. For example, this disease may be secondary to diseases such as Huntington's disease, which are also heredogenerative. Heredogenerative disorders are inherited and cause progressive brain cell loss that causes degenerative symptoms.

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