If you have been recently given the diagnoses of Parkinson’s disease, you are probably wondering what the statistics are about those with your condition. Parkinson’s disease statistics show that Parkinson’s disease is often left untreated and undiagnosed. There are currently around a
million people in the United States with Parkinson’s disease. That is 1 in 272 people who have the disease. However, it is also estimated that 1.10% of the U. S. population, or 1 in 90 people, have the disease and do not yet know it. These numbers show that Parkinson’s disease is becoming a common condition. Chances are you know someone who was or is affected by this condition.
Parkinson’s disease can affect anyone, regardless of social or economic class or geographic area. Each year, approximately 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Statistics indicate that this condition seems to affect men at a slightly higher rate than women, and it appears to affect whites more than African Americans or Asians. However, it is likely that everyone has a similar probability of developing Parkinson’s disease.
Let’s take age itself as the starting point, because there are some nuances that are not generally known. In line with popular perceptions, about 90% of people with the illness are over 60 years old.
This is true even if you consider the age at which the symptoms first appear. Not even 10% of cases are diagnosed in adults under age 40. Most of the fresh diagnoses are in those above age 60.
When those with mild symptoms of Parkinsons (symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease that may be caused by other things, or could develop into Parkinson’s Disease), those numbers increase dramatically. 15% of those between the ages of 60 and 74 have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Between the ages of 75 and 84, that percentage rises to almost 30%.
