Young people who are diagnosed with Parkinson’s face challenges that are typically not encountered by older patients. One of these involves pregnancy and the parenting of young children and adolescents. 10-20% of PwP disease will have their first symptoms before age 50, which can make some women reconsider having a child.Having PD does not affect someone’s ability to reproduce. It does not affect a woman’s ability to carry a baby to term and it does not increase the chances for either physical or cognitive birth defects. Most physicians recommend reducing the dosages of PD drugs during pregnancy, especially during the first three months of pregnancy when fetal development is at its most critical stage. Check with your doctor for specific details.For most people, PD is not thought to be inherited. Scientists have suggested that if there is a genetic factor involved in PD, it will likely turn out to be more of an inheritance of a slight predisposition which then requires triggering by one or more additional factors if it is to develop. However, ongoing research suggests that early-onset PD may have a somewhat larger inherited component than the more common version of the disease.
