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Who has Parkinson's disease?

About 1 in 500 people have Parkinson's disease (UK statistic), and it's more common as you get older2. The average age that people get Parkinson's disease is 65, but 5-10% of people who get it are under 403. As more people live longer, the number with Parkinson's disease is increasing4.

No one knows exactly why people get Parkinson's disease, but viral infection or environmental toxins may play a part3. People with a parent, sibling or child with Parkinson's disease, are twice as likely to get it as other people3. Parkinson's disease is more common in men than women2.

  1. National Collaborating Centre for Chronic Conditions. Parkinson’s disease: national clinical guideline for diagnosis and management in primary and secondary care. London: Royal College
  2. Clarke CE, Moore AP. Parkinson’s Disease. Clinical Evidence, August 2007. Accessed at: http://clinicalevidence.bmj.com/ceweb/conditions/nud/ 1203/1203_background.jsp
  3. World Health Organisation. Atlas. Country Resources for Neurological Disorders, 2004
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Artist: Karin

Karin is 66 years old. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's 11 years ago. Painting gives her inner peace. "Parkinson's - I always say Parki - is not my enemy."

 

All artwork on this site is from people living with Parkinson's.

All photography on this site is of people living with Parkinson's or carers of people with Parkinson's.