Many Sites Give Answers. We Start With Questions

Powering Forward is a place for people affected by Parkinson’s to ask the questions that matter to them – and get the right answers that are tailored to their needs.

For now, some Parkinson’s basics:

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative, neurological disorder. The disease is characterized by a loss of cells in the brain that produce dopamine, a chemical messenger responsible for transmitting signals to coordinate movement.

What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?

There is a range of symptoms associated with Parkinson’s and they manifest differently in different patients. The outward signs of Parkinson’s include the “cardinal” symptoms of resting tremors, slowness of movement, balance problems and rigidity. The “Three D’s” of Parkinson symptoms are: disability (physical issues), depression (emotional issues) and dementia (cognitive issues).

What causes Parkinson’s disease?

The exact cause of Parkinson’s is unknown. Typically the biggest risk factor
is advancing age.

Who is affected by Parkinson’s disease?

More than one million people in the U. S. and more than five million people worldwide are estimated to have Parkinson’s disease. The average age of onset of symptoms is 60 but the disease has been diagnosed in people as young as 18. One in 100 people over the age of 60 is affected.

Just been diagnosed?

Approximately 165 Americans are diagnosed every day with Parkinson’s – that’s 60,000 new PD patients each year. There is an alarming increase of diagnosis of patients of younger ages.