The frequency of Parkinson’s disease in the state has increased two-fold in the past decade, alarming medical experts and health planners. What is even more worrying is that Parkinson’s, always known as an elderly person’s disease, is now being detected among younger patients.
On the eve of World Parkinson’s Day, the Indian Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Society pointed out that the disease is now being diagnosed among people younger than 60 years. It is no longer simply a disease of the old. “The average age of diagnosis for Parkinson’s disease used to be the early sixties. Now, a growing number of people under the age of 40 are being diagnosed with the condition. This number makes up about 10 per cent of the total amount of Parkinson’s cases in the country,” according to data released by the society.
According to Dr Sudhir Kumar, consultant neurologist at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, “Parkinson’s disease normally afflicts persons aged 40 or above.” However, now doctors have noticed a new set of patients belonging to a sub-group called ‘Young Onset of Parkinson’s disease’ in whom the disease sets in before 40. “Parkinson’s disease is not by and large genetic, but in about 10 per cent of the population it runs in the family and this genetically-acquired Parkinson’s disease tends to afflict younger people,” he said.
Explaining the reason for the disease being spotted among the young population, Dr Sudhir Kumar said, “Increased awareness and better diagnosis has enabled early detection.” Dr Jaydip Ray Chaudhuri, head of the department of neurology, Yashoda Hospitals, said there has been a two-fold increase in the incidence of Parkinson’s disease in Andhra Pradesh in the last 10 years. While Parkinsonism associated with drugs, encephalitis, and stroke can be managed and reversed to a certain extent, the usual Parki-nson’s disease progresses with time.
“The brain contains special cells that release a chemical called dopamine. If these cells die, they do not produce dopamine and this results in Parkinson’s disease. Stem cell therapy holds promise for Parkinson’s patients. Deep brain stimulation therapy also helps to manage the disease,” Dr Chaudhuri said. It is faster in the younger patient; he can become immobile five years after the onset of the disease. But in the older patients, progress is slow.