Source: Fox News
Summary
Rebecca King Crews, wife of former NFL linebacker Terry Crews, has been living with Parkinson’s disease for over a decade. She first noticed symptoms in 2012 and was diagnosed in 2015. King Crews has undergone a newly approved procedure called bilateral-focused ultrasound, which has helped manage her symptoms. Parkinson’s disease typically affects older adults, but a smaller subset of patients develop early-onset symptoms before age 50. According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, about 4% of all cases begin before age 50.
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This guidance has been heard before.
Parkinson’s disease is often misdiagnosed in its initial stages, with early signs being varied and subtle. The cause of Parkinson’s is unknown, but growing research has linked early-onset Parkinson’s to environmental exposures and head trauma. While there is no proven prevention for Parkinson’s, regular exercise may help slow disease progression. The newly approved treatment, bilateral-focused ultrasound, represents a “meaningful advance” for the right patients, but is expensive and not consistently covered by insurance.
The advice sounds familiar, as Parkinson’s treatment options continue to evolve, with new studies and treatments emerging.
Author: Evan Null
