A Slow Walk, a Shrinking Handwriting: India’s Parkinson’s Pattern Shifts to Younger Adults

When 38-year-old Faridabad teacher Divyanshu Goel began walking more slowly and noticed his handwriting shrinking, he initially dismissed the changes as a result of tiredness. But as the symptoms persisted, a neurological assessment at Faridabad Hospital revealed something he never imagined at his age, early-onset Parkinson’s disease.

Handled by Dr. Sanjay Pandey, Professor and Head of the Department of Neurology and Stroke Medicine at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, his case represents one of many emerging cases of Early-Onset and Young-onset Parkinson’s disease in India. India is projected to have the majority global burden of Parkinson’s Disease by 2050, as it increases by 168% 

Goel’s symptoms were linked to a mutation in the Parkin gene, a major cause of early-onset Parkinson’s. Along with known genes like Parkin and SNCA, emerging Indian studies have highlighted the BSN gene, which appears far more relevant in South Asians. A recent Indian study of 674 young-onset patients confirms this pattern, identifying strong genetic drivers in Indians under 50. Global work echoes these findings. Another study at Northwestern University has identified the Commander gene complex, which helps the brain recycle proteins. When this system fails, brain cell death accelerates, contributing to Parkinson’s.

This shift in genetic patterns explains why people in their thirties and forties often dismiss early signs as stress or exhaustion. For a country like India, where neurodegenerative disorders are rising, integrating genetic knowledge into routine clinical practice will be critical.

For Goel, accepting the diagnosis was the hardest part. “When the doctors first told me I had Parkinson’s, I honestly couldn’t believe it. I was only 38… The diagnosis shocked me, but the treatment gave me back control over my life,” he said.

His care included medication, physiotherapy, balance and speech therapy, and a procedure where small electrical leads were implanted in his brain to improve movement signals. Within weeks, his symptoms were under control, and he returned to his professional and personal routines.

Goel’s experience highlights a larger national trend. Parkinson’s is slowly affecting younger Indians, driven by evolving genetic patterns. His recovery also reinforces a vital message that early detection leads to better outcomes and a more manageable life ahead.