Richard Lewis diagnosed with late-onset Parkinson’s disease: ‘Luckily, I got it late in life’

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Comic and actor Richard Lewis, 75, not too long ago introduced in a Twitter video that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease two years in the past.

“I began strolling a little bit stiffly, I used to be shuffling my toes, so I went to a neurologist and so they gave me a mind scan, and I used to be identified with Parkinson’s illness,” he shared within the video.

The “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star appeared optimistic about the truth that he was identified with the central nervous system dysfunction later in life, at 73 years previous.

RICHARD LEWIS REVEALS PARKINSON’S DISEASE DIAGNOSIS: ‘I’M FINISHED WITH STAND-UP’

“Fortunately, I bought it late in life … I’m on the appropriate meds — so I’m cool,” the actor mentioned.

Late-onset vs. early-onset Parkinson’s

Whereas nearly all of individuals with Parkinson’s illness are identified after age 60, some develop it earlier in life.

When an individual is identified at 50 years previous or youthful, it’s thought-about early-onset Parkinson’s illness, in response to the Parkinson’s Basis.

When it afflicts somebody older than 50, the illness is taken into account late-onset. 

What’s comparatively the identical throughout all age teams are early motor signs reminiscent of tremors, stiffness, slowness of motion, fatigue, melancholy, anxiousness, lack of scent and trouble sleeping, amongst others.

Early-onset Parkinson’s extra prone to be hereditary

Whereas it’s doable for somebody to get early-onset Parkinson’s illness even when it doesn’t run within the household, the youthful circumstances usually tend to be hereditary, in response to Dr. Charalampos Tzoulis, professor of neurology and neurogenetics on the College of Bergen and Haukeland College Hospital in Norway.

“Such causes embody mutations in genes reminiscent of PRKN (Parkin) and PINK1,” the physician informed Fox Information Digital. 

Richard Lewis

Comic and actor Richard Lewis, 75, not too long ago introduced in a Twitter video that he was identified with Parkinson’s illness two years in the past. (Getty Pictures)

About 15% of these with Parkinson’s have a household historical past of the illness, per Johns Hopkins Drugs.

These circumstances are triggered by genetic mutations within the genes LRRK2, PARK2, PARK7, PINK1 or SNCA.

Outcomes of early-onset Parkinson’s

Actor Michael J. Fox, who’s now 61, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 at simply 29 years previous (he did not share his prognosis publicly till 1998). 

In 2000, he began the Fox Basis for Parkinson’s Analysis, which is devoted to discovering a remedy for the illness by way of funding and analysis of therapies. Fox has additionally written four memoirs since his prognosis.

Michael J. Fox gives a speech at the podium at the Governors Award

Michael J. Fox (pictured accepting the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award) was identified with early-onset Parkinson’s illness in 1991 at age 29. (Kevin Winter)

One benefit of getting Parkinson’s early in life is that it tends to progress extra slowly, mentioned Dr. Tzoulis, who additionally leads analysis on Parkinson’s illness and different neurodegenerative disorders.

“Early-onset Parkinson’s usually progresses slower and will have a greater long-term prognosis,” mentioned the physician. 

Youthful sufferers are additionally much less prone to have dementia or cognitive issues. 

“However the prognosis will depend on a number of elements, reminiscent of whether or not there’s a genetic trigger and what the person’s response is to dopaminergic therapy (medications that regulate dopamine ranges within the mind) in addition to comorbidity.”

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Youthful sufferers are additionally much less prone to have dementia or cognitive issues, and so they are likely to dwell considerably longer than individuals with older-onset Parkinson’s, mentioned Dr. Joel S. Perlmutter, a professor of neurology on the Washington College College of Drugs in St. Louis, Missouri, in a webinar for the American Parkinson Illness Affiliation (APDA).

There are, nevertheless, some drawbacks to getting Parkinson’s earlier in life.

Woman holding hand

Youthful sufferers with Parkinson’s illness are much less prone to have dementia or cognitive issues; they have a tendency to dwell considerably longer than individuals with older-onset Parkinson’s. However there are drawbacks, too, for a prognosis earlier in life.  (iStock)

“Youthful sufferers are extra vulnerable to growing levodopa-induced dyskinesias (involuntary actions) throughout the course of the illness,” Dr. Tzoulis informed Fox Information Digital. 

This impact is attributable to the long-term use of levodopa, which is the commonest remedy for managing Parkinson’s motor signs.

“Early-onset Parkinson’s usually progresses slower.”

“This will usually be successfully dealt with by superior therapy choices, reminiscent of deep mind stimulation,” the physician added.

Sufferers with early-onset Parkinson’s are additionally extra prone to develop dystonia, which causes involuntary muscle contractions and modifications in posture.

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Despair and anxiousness can be heightened with earlier diagnoses.

“Folks with young-onset Parkinson’s are likely to have a higher rate of depression than older onset Parkinson’s,” mentioned Dr. Perlmutter.

Life expectancy with Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s isn’t in itself a deadly illness, in response to the APDA. 

“Most sufferers die with Parkinson’s illness and never from it,” the inspiration said on its web site. 

“The diseases that kill most individuals are the identical as people who kill individuals with PD. These are heart conditions, stroke and most cancers.”

Caregiver

General, individuals with Parkinson’s probably can dwell so long as they might with out the dysfunction. (iStock)

Because the illness progresses, nevertheless, it will probably make somebody extra prone to accidents and different circumstances that might turn out to be deadly.

For instance, these with Parkinson’s have a better threat of falling. 

They could possibly be as much as thrice extra prone to expertise falls, per a 2021 research in Journal of Motion Issues.

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Folks with the dysfunction additionally face a better hazard of growing pneumonia (lung infections) resulting from problem swallowing. 

These with early-onset Parkinson’s are likely to have larger charges of melancholy.

Aspiration pneumonia — which happens when somebody breathes meals or liquid into the airways or lungs with out swallowing — accounts for 70% of deaths in individuals with Parkinson’s illness, a 2021 research printed in Scientific Studies discovered.

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General, nevertheless, these with Parkinson’s can probably dwell so long as they might with out the dysfunction.

“Associated issues” could scale back total life expectancy by only one to 2 years, Healthline said.

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