Parkinson’s Disease May Damage the Brain Long Before Symptoms Appear; 2 Tests Could Detect It Early

Parkinson’s Disease May Damage the Brain Long Before Symptoms Appear; 2 Tests Could Detect It Early
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A recent study found the annual incidence of Parkinson’s disease, a progressive and degenerative neurological condition, among older adults is 50 percent higher than the current estimate of 60,000 diagnoses annually, affecting approximately 90,000 people each year in the United States alone. This may soon change. 

Early detection and accurate diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease are critical for effectively treating and managing the condition. However, the early symptoms of the disease often resemble those of less severe conditions, leading to a delayed confirmation of Parkinson’s until the later stages when significant brain impairment has occurred.

George Citroner
George Citroner
Author
George Citroner reports on health and medicine, covering topics that include cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions. He was awarded the Media Orthopaedic Reporting Excellence (MORE) award in 2020 for a story on osteoporosis risk in men.
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