Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition that affects people from all walks of life. It is quite common, with approximately 80,000 Australians, including over 17,000 Queenslanders living with Parkinson’s.

The average age of diagnosis is 65 years, however younger people can be diagnosed with Parkinson’s too. This is referred to as Young Onset Parkinson’s.

It is not easy to diagnose Parkinson’s. There are no laboratory tests (such as a blood test or brain scan), so it is important that the diagnosis is made by a specialist, such as a neurologist. The specialist will examine for any physical signs of Parkinson’s and take a detailed history of symptoms.

Facts

• There are more than 100,000 Australians currently living with Parkinson’s
• 30 Australians are diagnosed every day—that’s more than one person per hour!
• Parkinson’s can affect adults of any age
• 20% of those diagnosed are of “working age”, or under 65 (approx. 16,000)
• 5% of those diagnosed are under the age of 40 (approx. 4,000)
• There is no cure.

Please click on the link here to go directly to Parkinson’s Queensland and make a donation today – http://parkinsons-qld.org.au/