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What is
Parkinson’s
Disease?

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a chronic neurological condition named after Dr. James Parkinson, the London physician who first identified it in 1817. A type of movement disorder, Parkinson’s occurs when nerve cells (neurons) in the brain don’t produce enough of the brain chemical dopamine.

FAQs

  • As many as 1.5 million Americans. That’s more than multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), muscular dystrophy, and myasthenia gravis combined. Most people develop Parkinson’s after they turn 60. In fact, 1 out of 100 people over 60 are affected by it. Thanks in part to strides in public health, Parkinson’s patients are now living well into their eighties. As the Baby Boomer generation ages, we can expect to see many more people living with Parkinson’s.

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