Young-onset Parkinson's disease: Its unique features and their impact on quality of life

Young-onset Parkinson's disease (YOPD), defined as age at onset between 21 and 40 years, presents unique motor and non-motor features that differentiate this subtype from the typical late onset Parkinson's disease (LOPD), starting after age 61. Because it affects patients in the prime of their life, it often has an extraordinary impact on their family, social, and professional life. While typically progressing at a slower rate than LOPD, patients with YOPD are more prone to develop levodopa-related motor complications, including dyskinesia. In this article we will review the clinical features and epidemiology of YOPD with focus on its impact on pregnancy, employment and family, as well as its particular diagnostic and management challenges.