 [ Symptoms ] what increases the risk of getting parkinsons disease [ Disease ] risk factors for parkinson is disease are difficult to identify because the cause of the disease is unknown advancing age is the only known risk factor for typical parkinson is disease not including early onset parkinson is most instances of parkinson is disease occur after age 50 although the illness does occur in people between the ages of 30 and 50 or in rare cases at a younger age a very small number of people with parkinson is have a close relative who also has the disease but it does not appear that a family history of typical parkinson is disease significantly increases your risk of developing the disease having a family history of the disease is a more significant risk factor in cases of early onset parkinson is disease but this form of the disease is not common some research suggests that long term exposure to certain environmental factors such as pesticides chemicals or well water may increase a person is risk of developing parkinson is disease but this has not been proven there are many other causes of parkinsonism which is a group of symptoms that includes tremor muscle stiffness slow movement and unsteady walking parkinsonism mimics parkinson is disease but in fact is not parkinson is disease webmd medical reference from healthwise this information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information © 1995 2011 healthwise incorporated healthwise healthwise for every health decision and the healthwise logo are trademarks of healthwise incorporated