Parkinson's

Today in Canada, there are approximately 100,000 people suffering with Parkinson's Disease and more than half of them are diagnosed before retirement age.

The risk is real:

1 in 300 people in Canada and the United States has Parkinson's.

The incidence of Parkinson’s increases with age; however:

• 20% of patients are diagnosed before age 50.
• 5-10% of patients are diagnosed before age 40.

Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neuro-degenerative disorder affecting older adults.

The typical Canadian patient pays an estimated $1,000 per month for Parkinson’s medications, but this isn’t the only challenge they will face …

86% of patients who suffer a heart attack and 75% of patients who suffer a stroke survive the incident.

Many patients may experience a sense of fear and/or isolation, trembling, or fatigue, which cause difficulties and anxieties that influence daily living.

Surgery, a helpful option for selected patients costs an estimated $15,000 to $20,000. Due to the prohibitive costs and the limited accessibility of experienced neurosurgeons in Canada, many of the people who qualify for surgery never undergo the procedure.

As of January 2002, there were only 50 Parkinson disease specialists practicing in Canada.

What would diagnosis of a heart attack or stroke mean to you?