Hello everyone

I am dating a girl who was diagnosed with Parkinson when she was 22 years old and is now 35 (so 13 years officially living with it). Besides medication she has done deep brain stimulation surgery in 2018. Going out with her today I honestly see no symptoms; if she didn't tell me I would possibly not know. Her videos from before however show her shaking strongly, very real contrast in muscles and voice.

Anyway, I was/am completely ignorant about most things Parkinson before meeting her and I am just starting a journey of studying more and trying my best to understand it. She is a great spirit, full of life and qualities, but sometimes when she gets sad, and she has these days here and there, she says that she won't live a long life, as in the disease would compromise a normal longevity expectation, and that she will lose physical and neurological capacities, losing independence and requiring serious caregiving. She even mentions thing like likelihood of dementia, memory and mood disturbance. And she makes these things sound early, like in the next 15-20 years.

I would like to better understand and know how accurate are (or not) the things that she says. I would like to know what (and when) I could reasonably, scientifically expect for YOPD cases such as herself as time goes by.

Most of the info I find about the disease is centered around older people and what these texts say about life expectancy and cognitive abilities I feel are already partially at greater risk for anyone of that demographic just due to being of advanced age, so it is difficult for me to fully understand the more particular realities of cases like hers.

Is it reasonable to expect to see happening in the next 20 years what she says?

Today she even told me, first time, that she thinks it is already happening, i.e. that she feels she is currently losing cognitive capacities. I don't know if this could be just phychological at this point?... I also read that PD patients have a higher rate of depression and I fear she could suffer from that, and that it could affect how she sees somethings.

My friends, sorry if it is a long message. I would lile to be a good partner for her and I am really just starting. Forgive ny ignorance and please educate me where you see fit. Right now I just need to know, no sugar coating.

Thank you