What is Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's Disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system marked by muscle tremors, muscle rigidity, decreased mobility, stooped posture, slow voluntary movements, and a mask-like facial expression.

How do members experience Parkinson's disease?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with Parkinson's disease*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for Parkinson's disease*

*Data from patients with Parkinson's disease, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with Parkinson's disease*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Sinemet)
Perceived effectiveness
for Parkinson's disease (22 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
22
Tried for
Parkinson's disease (59)
Treatment

(Symmetrel)
Perceived effectiveness
for Parkinson's disease (23 evaluations)
Side effects
dizziness with hypotension upon standing reactive depression
Total evaluations
23
Tried for
Parkinson's disease (14)
Treatment

(Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation)
Perceived effectiveness
for Parkinson's disease (4 evaluations)
Side effects
fatigue lightheadedness
Total evaluations
4
Tried for
Parkinson's disease (7)
Treatment

(Requip)
Perceived effectiveness
for Parkinson's disease (4 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
4
Tried for
Parkinson's disease (7)
Treatment

(Comtan)
Perceived effectiveness
for Parkinson's disease (2 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
2
Tried for
Parkinson's disease (4)

*Data from patients with Parkinson's disease, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has Parkinson's disease on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 12
20s 63
30s 201
40s 542
50s 2,196
60s 6,308
70+ 16,039

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 13,111
Female 12,523

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By sharing your stories and data, you will:
  • help each other live better and uncover the best ways to manage your health today
  • help researchers shorten the path to new treatments tomorrow

How much good can your data do? A whole lot, as member Ed explains in this video.

What is Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's Disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system marked by muscle tremors, muscle rigidity, decreased mobility, stooped posture, slow voluntary movements, and a mask-like facial expression.



Common symptoms reported by people with Parkinson's disease

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for Parkinson's disease

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Sinemet)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
15,277
Tried for
Parkinson's disease (59)
Treatment name(s)

(Symmetrel)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
4,774
Tried for
Parkinson's disease (14)
Treatment name(s)

(Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation)
Type
Equipment
How many have tried
1,744
Tried for
Parkinson's disease (7)
Treatment name(s)

(Requip)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
5,075
Tried for
Parkinson's disease (7)
Treatment name(s)

(Comtan)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
1,953
Tried for
Parkinson's disease (4)

Data from patients with Parkinson's disease, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:


Compare treatments taken by people with Parkinson's disease

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Sinemet)
Perceived effectiveness
for Parkinson's disease (22 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
22
Tried for
Parkinson's disease (59)
Treatment name(s)

(Symmetrel)
Perceived effectiveness
for Parkinson's disease (23 evaluations)
Side effects
dizziness with hypotension upon standing reactive depression
Total evaluations
23
Tried for
Parkinson's disease (14)
Treatment name(s)

(Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation)
Perceived effectiveness
for Parkinson's disease (4 evaluations)
Side effects
fatigue lightheadedness
Total evaluations
4
Tried for
Parkinson's disease (7)
Treatment name(s)

(Requip)
Perceived effectiveness
for Parkinson's disease (4 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
4
Tried for
Parkinson's disease (7)
Treatment name(s)

(Comtan)
Perceived effectiveness
for Parkinson's disease (2 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
2
Tried for
Parkinson's disease (4)
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with Parkinson's disease, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:



Who has Parkinson's disease on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 13 new patients joined this month
  • 29,862 say Parkinson's disease is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 12
20s 63
30s 201
40s 542
50s 2,196
60s 6,308
70+ 16,039
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 69
20-29 years 238
30-39 years 829
40-49 years 1,858
50-59 years 2,679
60-69 years 1,987
70+ years 615

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 13,111
Female 12,523

Types
Condition Types Proportion # of patients
Drug-induced parkinsonism 229
Parkinsonism of unknown cause 4,130
Parkinson's disease 14,159
Parkinson's disease of inherited (genetic) origin 1,549
Vascular parkinsonism 104
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 9,598
Not Diagnosed 309

These charts show data from Parkinson's disease patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: