Shared from myparkinsonsteam.com.
The cause of most cases of Parkinson’s disease is unknown. Although researchers have established that both hereditary and environmental factors influence a person’s risk of developing Parkinson’s, for the most part, they don’t know why some people get the disease and others don’t. Most scientists believe Parkinson’s is most likely caused by a combination of inherited and environmental factors.
Age is the most important factor in the development of parkinsonism (a term referring to several neurological conditions with movement issues, including Parkinson’s disease). Parkinson’s usually develops after age 60, though it starts before 50 for about 5 percent to 10 percent of people, according to the National Institute on Aging. A 2022 study found that in North America, risk increases with age for those 65 and older. Only about 4 percent of cases are diagnosed before age 50. Rarely, Parkinson’s has been diagnosed in people as young as 18.
