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Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

Risk factors for Parkinson's disease include:

  • Age. Young adults rarely experience Parkinson's disease. It ordinarily begins in middle or late life, and the risk continues to increase with age.
  • Heredity. Having a close relative with Parkinson's disease increases the chances that you'll also develop the disease. However, your risks are still small unless you have many relatives in your family with Parkinson's disease.
  • Sex. Men are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than are women.
  • Exposure to toxins. Ongoing exposure to herbicides and pesticides may put you at a slightly increased risk of Parkinson's disease.
Complications Causes
References
  1. Parkinson's disease: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/parkinsons_disease/detail_parkinsons_disease.htm. Accessed Feb. 13, 2012.
  2. Parkinson's disease. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec16/ch221/ch221g.html. Accessed Feb. 13, 2012.
  3. Chou KL. Clinical manifestations of Parkinson disease. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Feb. 20, 2012.
  4. Jankovic J. Etiology and pathogenesis of Parkinson disease. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Feb. 22, 2012.
  5. Chou KL. Diagnosis of Parkinson disease. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Feb. 13, 2012.
  6. Tarsy D. Pharmacological treatment of Parkinson disease. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Feb. 13, 2012.
  7. Tarsy D. Surgical treatment of Parkinson disease. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Feb. 20, 2012.
  8. Ahlskog JE. Does vigorous exercise have a neuroprotective effect in Parkinson disease? Neurology. 2011;77:288.
  9. Tarsy D. Nonpharmacologic management of Parkinson disease. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Feb. 24, 2012.
  10. Rakel D. Integrative Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-2/0/1494/0.html. Accessed Feb. 24, 2012.
  11. Parkinson's disease: Fitness counts. National Parkinson Foundation. http://www.parkinson.org/Search-Pages/Search.aspx?pKeywords=fitness. Accessed Feb. 24, 2012.
  12. Parkinson's disease. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed April 1, 2010.
  13. Complementary therapies and Parkinson's disease. National Parkinson Foundation. http://www.parkinson.org/Search-Pages/Search.aspx?pKeywords=complementary%20therapy. Accessed Feb. 24, 2012.
  14. Ahlskog, JE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 1, 2012.
DS00295 May 11, 2012

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