Prognosis and Statistics

The overall prognosis of Parkinson’s disease is that the brain will be affected until the neurotransmitters are so slow speech and movement may be delayed by a matter of minutes. There may also be a gradual loss of continence. Use of medication and surgery will often bring the life expectancy of those whom it reacts well with to parallel an average person.  However Parkinson’s left untreated will most likely cause an early death within the range of 15 years after diagnosis. Depending on the type or Parkinson’s it is, will also determine the life expectancy.

 

Statistics of Parkinson’s disease show that one in every three hundred and fifty Australian citizens suffers. On top of this another thirty people are diagnosed each day. In a year 2011-2012 the Australian economy lost approximately $775 million dollars. Approximately $480 million dollars of this was spent on health system and in addition to that a total of $110 million in the Australian workforce lost in productivity. On average, each person suffering from Parkinson’s disease will spend $12,000 on medical costs.  Now each year nearly 50,000 years of healthy life are lost due to the condition.