Video Transcript:

Important Facts About Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder.

It first presents with problems of movement.

It first presents with problems of movement. The four major motor problems related to this disease

are tremor, slow movements, stiffness of arms, legs and

trunk, and problems of balance/tendency to fall.

are tremor, slow movements, stiffness of arms, legs and trunk, and problems of balance/tendency to fall. An estimated 7 to 10 million people worldwide are living

with Parkinson's disease and as many as 1 million of them

are Americans.

with Parkinson's disease and as many as 1 million of them are Americans. This is more than the combined number of people diagnosed

with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrig's

disease.

with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrig's disease. Moreover, according to the report from the Center of

Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health

Statistics, complications of Parkinson's disease are the

14th major cause of death in the United States. Approximately

60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease

each year - this number does not reflect the thousands of

cases that go undetected.

Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics, complications of Parkinson's disease are the 14th major cause of death in the United States. Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease each year - this number does not reflect the thousands of cases that go undetected. Incidence of Parkinson's increases with age but an estimated

4% of people with Parkinson's are diagnosed before the age

of 50.

4% of people with Parkinson's are diagnosed before the age of 50. Men are one and a half times more likely to have Parkinson's

than women. Also, whites are more likely to get Parkinson's

than African-Americans or Asians.

Monetary Value of Parkinson's Disease

The combined direct and indirect cost of Parkinson's

is estimated to be $25 billion per year in the United States

alone.

is estimated to be $25 billion per year in the United States alone. Medication costs for an individual person with Parkinson's

disease average $2,500 a year and therapeutic surgery can

cost up to $100,000 dollars per patient.

This disorder is chronic and worsens over time and it has no cure. Unfortunate are the people that are suffering from this type of disease. It is best to face it with a limitless positive view in lif