Key facts about Parkinson’s

  • Parkinson’s is named after James Parkinson, the London doctor who first recorded the symptoms in 1817.
  • It is caused by the brain gradually reducing its ability to produce the chemical dopamine in the part of the brain that controls movement and balance
  • The most common symptoms are tremor, muscle rigidity and slowness of movement.
  • Most people experience loss of sense of smell, changes to mood and a fixed facial expression as early symptoms
  • Around 10 million people have the condition worldwide – that’s less than one percent of the total population.
  • Most people who get Parkinson’s are over 60, but one in ten are under 50. Slightly more men than women are affected.
  • Parkinson’s is the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world – it is thought that the number of people with Parkinson’s will double to 20 million by the year 2050.
  • Parkinson’s is life-altering, but not life-threatening.
  • There is no cure for Parkinson’s yet, but there are many medications, surgical treatments and lifestyle changes that can help to control symptoms

Studies on the prevalence of Parkinson’s

To date, no global studies have been conducted to reliably ascertain the number of people who have Parkinson’s. It is therefore possible only to estimate the worldwide prevalence of the condition.

Here are some of the more recent prevalence studies: