THE WORLDWIDE PREVALENCE OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE

5th July 2014 - New research

Movement Disorders [2014] Jun 28 [Epub ahead of print] (T.Pringsheim, N.Jette, A.Frolkis, T.D.Steeves) 
Researchers sought to synthesize studies on the prevalence of Parkinson's Disease to obtain an overall view of how the prevalence varies by age, gender, and geographic location. Geographic location was stratified by the following groups : Asia, Africa, South America, Europe / North America / Australia. Data were analyzed by age group, geographic location, and gender.

Analysis of worldwide data showed a rising prevalence of Parkinson's Disease with age, with (per 100,000) : 41 in 40 to 49 year olds, 107 in 50 to 59 year olds, 173 in 55 to 64 year olds, 428 in 60 to 69 year olds, 1087 in 70 to 79 year olds, and 1903 in those aged older than 80.A significant difference was seen in prevalence geographically only for people who were 70 to 79 years old, with a prevalence of 1601 (per 100,000) in people in North America, Europe, and Australia, compared to only 646 (per 100,000) in people from Asia. Differences in prevalence according to gender was found only for people who were 50 to 59 years old, with a prevalence of 41 in females and 134 in males.

Parkinson's Disease prevalence worldwide increases steadily with age. Some differences in prevalence according to geographic location and gender can be detected.