Parkinson’s Disease does not necessarily randomly choose its victims. If you or a loved one has this disease, you may be asking the question… why me? Why them?

The answer is not necessarily a simple one. There are several reasons why one person may be more susceptible to getting Parkinson’s Disease over another. The risks, however, are clear.

Before discussing the risks of getting Parkinson’s Disease, understanding the processes by which this happens is also multi-faceted. Similar to Alzheimer’s Disease, neurons in the brain start to break down and eventually die off. These neurons lose the chemical, known as dopamine, which sends necessary messages to the brain. These reduced levels of dopamine causes abnormal brain activity leading to Parkinson’s Disease.

It has also been discovered that people with Parkinson’s Disease suffer from changes in the brain due to the presence of Lewy bodies—these are clumps of specific substances within brain cells that are microscopic markers of Parkinson’s disease. Researchers believe these Lewy bodies hold an important clue to the cause of Parkinson’s disease.

[1] In addition, found inside the Lewy bodies, is a substance called Alpha-Synuclein, which is also clumped together in the cells that are unable to be broken down. This is of significant focus among the research community.

Probably the most difficult of it all, are why these changes are happening. Although researchers believe that Lewy Bodies are a good clue to why PD occurs, they still do not completely understand why.

Risks of PD

The risks of PD are not so clear-cut. Although still baffling to the scientific community, they have been able to piece together significant data to help the public understand and recognize the risks.

  • Genetics: There is a specific genetic mutation that occurs in people with PD—Certain gene variations appear to increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease but with a relatively small risk of Parkinson’s disease for each of these genetic markers.[2]  Studies have shown that someone who has had a close relative with PD has an increased risk of developing PD; it should be noted, however, the rate is still small unless there are several close relatives who have had this disease.
  • Sex/Age: It’s extremely rare to see a younger person with Parkinson’s Disease as it typically develops at age 60 and older. It has also shown to afflict more men than women.
  • Toxin Exposure: Being exposed to pesticides and/or herbicides on an ongoing basis, has shown to slightly increase the risk of getting PD.

The Progression of Parkinson’s Disease

As the progression of Parkinson’s Disease occurs, there are several complications from minor to severe that can significantly alter one’s quality of life. Adjusting to this new normal can be quite difficult.

  1. Chewing/Eating/Swallowing:  As swallowing, becomes more difficult, drooling may become an issue due to the accumulation of saliva in the mouth. During the latter stages of PD, the muscles in the mouth are affected, making it difficult to chew and often leads to choking.
  2. Bladder and Bowel Control: As the loss of muscle control deteriorates, so does the ability to control one’s urine and bowel. This can also lead to incontinence, as well as difficulty in urinating and experiencing constipation.
  3. Cognitive Problems/Dementia: Usually seen in late stage PD, the decline in cognitive abilities, coupled with dementia is a struggle for many patients. In addition, depression, especially in the early stages of this disease is quite common—feelings of fear, anxiety and sense of loss. Medications can be prescribed to help alleviate or lessen these symptoms.
  4. Sleep Disorders: Many PD patients experience sleeping difficulties—frequent waking during the night that results in falling asleep during the day. In addition, active dreams can also occur due to Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder; acting out one’s dreams that can be physical in nature.

Caregivers must be able to recognize the changes in their patient’s abilities as the disease progresses and the decline in health becomes more evident. Fortunately, there are a plethora of available products specifically designed to make it easier for the PD patient to remain at home. The adaptable products help to better assist the patient and caregiver to perform the Activities of Daily Living, including eating, bathing, dressing, grooming.

Although the causes of PD are not completely understood, there has been some proof that engaging in regular aerobic exercise may help to reduce the risk of PD.


1, 2 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20376055