Parkinson's Disease Strikes 16-Year-Olds. Doctor Says What Causes It

• A new treatment for Parkinson's involves continuous subcutaneous infusion of the drug through a pump. Patients can adjust the dose of the drug depending on their activity throughout the day.

  Parkinson's disease is affecting increasingly younger people, which may be related to environmental pollution.

A new method is being used to treat patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. It involves continuous subcutaneous infusion of the drug foscarbidopa and foslevodopa through a small pump.

Professor Joanna Siuda, Head of the Department of Neurology at the University Clinical Center of the Silesian Medical University in Katowice, pointed out during a press conference on Thursday that previously, both oral and infusion medications had been used in Poland. The advantage of the new method is the combination of an effective drug with a minimally invasive form of administration, namely a subcutaneous cannula.

"The drug is administered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is also a significant change compared to previous preparations. The pump allows for the administration of variable doses of the drug, meaning that during an active day, the patient has a set daily dose, which decreases at night as needed. It is also possible to increase the dose if the patient plans to be more active, for example, to run or cycle," said Professor Joanna Siuda.

The doctor explains that continuous infusion of the drug helps avoid situations in which patients suddenly experience a sharp worsening of their disease symptoms or wake up from sleep in a very bad condition .

"We see the effects already in the first few days of treatment, which patients spend in the hospital. Most importantly, there are no fluctuations—i.e., sudden changes in functioning or worsening of disease symptoms—that previously occurred despite pharmacological treatment," said Professor Joanna Siuda.

She emphasized that thanks to this, patients can remain socially and professionally active.

Patients qualified for treatment with the new method must spend several days in the hospital. The purpose is, among other things, to verify the treatment's effectiveness, determine drug doses, and train them in how to use the pump.

Prof. Joanna Siuda pointed out that Parkinson's disease is being diagnosed in increasingly younger people. She cited the example of a patient whose first symptoms appeared at age 16. However, the first symptoms most often appear in people aged 55-60.

"We're seeing younger and younger people getting sick. What could be the reason? Unfortunately, it's environmental pollution. We used to think that pesticides were the main chemical factor that increased the risk of Parkinson's disease. (...) Unfortunately, air pollution is now causing more and more cases," said Professor Joanna Siuda.

She added that genetic factors also play a role. Experts have identified dozens of different genes associated with Parkinson's disease.

The new method was introduced to the nationwide drug program in 2024. The first patient - Piotr Lipoński - used it at the University Clinical Center in Katowice.

"This pump has truly made a huge difference in my life. It allows me to forget about my illness," said Piotr Lipoński. He noted that thanks to the new treatment method, he no longer has to worry about fluctuations in his health.

So far, the new treatment has been administered to 25 people at the University Clinical Center in Katowice. The youngest person waiting to begin treatment is 39 years old.

Parkinson's disease is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder. It is characterized by movement disorders, including hand tremors, muscle stiffness, and balance problems. It is estimated that approximately 100,000 people in Poland struggle with Parkinson's disease.

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