Young Onset Parkinson’s makes up 10 to 20% of all people living with Parkinson’s. They are diagnosed in their 20s to 50s. 

Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world with 10 million currently affected according to the World Health Organisation.

Parkinson’s incidence rates increases 4% per year, impacting on our economy and healthcare systems at a cost of over $10 billion each year.

Parkinson’s is the second most common neurological disease in Australia after dementia.

There are over 150,000 people living with Parkinson’s in Australia. 50 Australians are diagnosed every day.

There are more than 1,100 Aussies under 65 who develop young onset each year. Only 16% of all those living with YOP have an NDIS approved plan.

Statistics have been taken and updated from Deloitte Access Economics Living with Parkinson’s Disease: An Updated Economic Analysis 2014 (Deloitte, 2015), Participants with a neurodegenerative condition in the NDIS (NDIS, 2021) and Ecosystem of Parkinson’s in Australia Part 2 (Mellick, 2024).

Our commitment to information

In 2022, Griffith University undertook as scoping study to address some fundamental gaps in knowledge about prevalence and incidence of Parkinson’s in Australia. Despite the important modelling provided in the Deloitte Access Economics Living with Parkinson’s Disease: An updated economic analysis 2014 report, there has been very little evidence testing to determine the veracity of the estimations and assumptions.

Parkinson’s Australia is committed to a firm basis from which our advocacy can be promoted and the information we provide is up-to-date and of the highest possible quality.

A woman using a tablet computer to donate to Parkinson's research.

Donations

Your donation helps us to achieve our core business, to improve the lives of people affected by Parkinson’s in Australia through national advocacy, raising awareness and connecting people living with Parkinson’s, their families and carers, researchers and health professionals in the Parkinson’s community.