Parkinson’s disease is a nervous system disorder that not only inflicts the elderly. It also appears in the middle-aged and the numbers for younger patients are growing.
In Taiwan, about 40,000 people have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, most of them between 50 and 60 years old. But Taipei Medical University says there are patients under 50 too.
To mark World Parkinson’s Day on April 11, a patient surnamed Chang shared his experience.
It’s a celebration for Mr. Chang and his attending physician. 59 year old Mr. Chang was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease when he was 40. That was a heavy blow to him.
Chang said he wasn’t able to walk steadily or even stand still for five minutes. He even needed an ambulance to take him home.
Before Chang had a surgery called “deep brain stimulation,” he had to rely on others’ help when he walked. But now, with a neurostimulator chip implanted into his brain, he is able to lead a normal life.
Taipei Medical University Professor Yeh Tu-hsueh said Parkinson’s disease is most likely to hit people in their mid-50s though he has seen more younger patients recently. The exact cause for Parkinson’s disease is unknown though there are links to genetic and environmental factors.