All About Parkinson’s Disease
What Are The Risk Factors For Parkinson’s Disease?
A risk factor is something which increases the risk of developing a condition or disease. For example, obesity significantly raises the chances of developing diabetes type 2. Hence, obesity is a risk factor for diabetes type 2. Risk factors for Parkinson’s disease include:
- Age - the older you get the greater the risk. Although Parkinson’s disease can affect young people, this is exceptional.
- Genetics - a person who has a close relative (brother, sister, mother, father) with Parkinson’s disease has a slightly higher risk of developing it himself/herself, compared to others. Even so, according to The Mayo Clinic, USA, the risk is still less than 5%.
- Gender - males are slightly more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease compared to females.
- Toxin exposure - individuals who have been exposed to some chemicals, such as carbon monoxide, herbicides or pesticides have a slightly higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, compared to other people.
- Some medications - such as antipsychotics used to treat severe paranoia and schizophrenia can cause Parkinsonism (symptoms that resemble Parkinson’s disease).
This Parkinson's disease information section was written by Christian Nordqvist for Medical News Today, and may not be re-produced in any way without the permission of Medical News Today.
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Disclaimer: This guide is provided for general information purposes only. The materials contained within this guide do not constitute medical or pharmaceutical advice, which should be sought from qualified medical and pharmaceutical advisers. Full disclaimer.
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