Early Onset Parkinson's Disease

Being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at a young age presents many challenges not faced by people who develop the disease later in life. When PD is diagnosed before age 40, it is referred to as "early-onset" or "young-onset" Parkinson's disease (PD). According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), 5 to 10 percent of people with the disease develop it before the age of 50. Managing early-onset PD involves taking medication and learning new strategies to cope with everyday tasks.

PD Symptoms

• PD is a degenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system, causing tremors in the head, legs, jaw, arms or hands. The disease also tends to slow movement and cause stiffness in the arms, legs and trunk. Symptoms usually worsen with time and as the disease progresses, you may have trouble talking, walking and completing your usual tasks.

Early-onset Symptoms

• People with early-onset PD may experience slightly different symptoms than older people. Unexplained aches, clumsiness and stiffness may be the first signs of the disease, which may not be diagnosed until years later when the symptoms are more pronounced. Younger people may not have quite as much trouble with tremors, at least in the early stages of the disease. If tremors are a problem, stress can make the shaking even worse. Slow movement, rigidity and difficulty walking can be a problem no matter what your age. Dystonic spasms, which often appear as a turning in of the toes or foot appear more often in early-onset PD and can be among the first signs of the disease.

Cause

• In many cases, it is impossible to determine what caused the early onset form of the disease. Gene mutations are responsible for some cases of early-onset PD. If you have a close relative who has PD, you may have an increased risk of developing the disease, although this risk is only 2 to 5 percent unless your family has a known gene mutation, according to NINDS.

Treatment

• Levodopa, a drug used to increase dopamine levels in the brain, is the medication most often used to treat PD symptoms. Dopamine is needed to produce purposeful movement of the muscles. This chemical is lacking in people with early-onset PD, due to the premature death of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. When younger people take levodopa, they are more likely to experience involuntary movement and other motor complications that make it difficult to work and maintain an active life. If you have early-onset PD, your doctor may recommend that you delay taking levodopa for as long as possible and instead use other drugs to treat your symptoms, such as dopamine agonists, drugs that work by stimulating brain receptors that are usually stimulated by dopamine.

Psychological Effects

• Early-onset PD strikes when life is just beginning for many people. Concerns about the continued ability to work, to care for children and to maintain romantic relationships can contribute to depression and anxiety. Counseling and support groups can be helpful in managing the psychological effects of the disease. Counseling can also be helpful for family members who are struggling to accept and understand the diagnosis.

Employment

• Changes may be needed in order to continue working. If you work at a physically demanding job, it may be necessary to change your occupation to one that is less taxing on the body. No matter what type of job you have, you may find that you need to make modifications to the way you perform your job. Occupational therapy can help you learn new strategies to effectively manage tasks at work and at home.