- There are over 6.5 million cases of PD worldwide
- In the United States alone, over 1.5 million people are believed to have PD
- About 60,000 new cases are diagnosed every year
- As the average age of the general population increases, the frequency of PD will continue to increase
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| Parkinson's disease is a progressive movement disorder of the central nervous system, which includes your brain and spinal cord. In your brain, certain cells make a chemical called dopamine, which carries messages between different areas of your brain. Some of the areas tell your body how and when to move.
In some people, these brain cells are damaged or lost and no longer make enough dopamine to carry the messages. Movement may become difficult, resulting in symptoms (also known as "motor symptoms") that are diagnosed as PD.
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| Parkinson's disease is chronic, meaning that it lasts for a long time. And it is progressive, meaning that symptoms advance from early to moderate to advanced stages. The symptoms of PD and the speed at which it progresses are different for each person.
Parkinson's disease is a condition for which currently there is no cure. But you can manage your symptoms with medications. As symptoms progress, your treatment may be modified.
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