Real Health: Living with early-onset Parkinson's

"Early-onset Parkinson's disease is Parkinson's that develops before age 50, with symptoms similar to late-onset Parkinson's, such as tremors, rigidity, and slowness of movement. Non-motor symptoms like depression, sleep disturbances, and a reduced sense of smell are also common, sometimes appearing years before motor symptoms."

"I have tremors and restless legs. I have a particular type of Parkinson's called early onset. Which is quite rare. There are three types: there's late onset which is anyone who is diagnosed over the age of 50. There's early onset, which is anyone under the age of 50 and then there's juvenile which starts before the age of 21 in those affected."

Early-onset Parkinson's disease develops before age 50 and presents with motor symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, and slowness of movement. Non-motor symptoms frequently include depression, sleep disturbances, and a reduced sense of smell and can appear years before motor signs. Onset categories include late onset (diagnosis after age 50), early onset (diagnosis before age 50), and juvenile onset (beginning before age 21). A person with early-onset Parkinson's reported tremors and restless legs and described the early-onset subtype as rare. Symptom recognition and subtype classification guide clinical expectations and management.

Read at Irish Independent