Sex Differences In Pd Incidence
As shown in Fig. , incidence estimates were higher in males as compared to females at all ages in the datasets which allowed sex-based comparisons into the 8th decade . PD incidence among males rose first, most sharply between ages 64 and 74 in the fourstudy cohorts. In the decade of peak incidence, the male: female rate ratio varied across datasets: 1.86 , 2.18 , 2.51 2.58 . When individuals below the age of 65 were included, a higher incidence of PD among males remained however, the male: female sex ratio declined 4.6% , 11.4% , 20.8% .
Fig. 1: Age- and Sex-Specific Incidence Rates of PD.
Age-Specific Incidence Rates per 100 000 Person-years for Females and Males of: Treated Parkinsonism in the Ontario population Treated Parkinsonism in the U.S. Medicare Insured population Treated, Neurologist Reviewed Parkinson Disease in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Insured Population Movement Disorders Specialist Consensus Parkinson Disease in the Honolulu Asian Aging Study Cohort .
Facts About Parkinsons Disease
- In general, the risk of PD increases with age.
- Approximately 4% of PD patients are diagnosed before 50.
- Men are more susceptible to PD than women, wherein PD occurs in men 50% more than in women.
- This disease impacts the patients lifestyle, wherein they become incapable of performing daily tasks, and would need the help of others.
- The chances of developing PD increase by 2%-5% in people who have relatives with the disease. And studies indicate that 15%-25% of Parkinsons disease patients have a relative with PD.
- Estimates indicate that around 10 million people around the world have Shaking Palsy.
- The risk of developing PD is higher in industrial countries.
- Many studies found that PD is more common in people with white skin than in people with dark skin or Asian. And estimates indicate that people of darker skin color and Asian are less likely to develop Parkinsons disease by 50% than people with white skin color. However, People of Hispanic origins have the highest PD rate, followed by non-Hispanic white people, Asians, and people of dark skin color.According to one study, the PD prevalence rate in people of Hispanic origins is 16.6 people per 100.000, while 13.6 people per 100.000 in non-Hispanic whites, 11.3 people per 100.000 in Asians, and 10.2 people per 100.000 in people of dark skin.
Sidebar: Advances In Circuitry Research
The brain contains numerous connections among neurons known as neural circuits.
Research on such connections and networks within the brain have advanced rapidly in the past few years. A wide spectrum of tools and techniques can now map connections between neural circuits. Using animal models, scientists have shown how circuits in the brain can be turned on and off. For example, researchers can see correlations between the firing patterns of neurons in a zebrafishs brain and precise behavioral responses such as seeking and capturing food.
Potential opportunities to influence the brains circuitry are starting to emerge. Optogenetics is an experimental technique that involves the delivery of light-sensitive proteins to specific populations of brain cells. Once in place, these light-sensitive proteins can be inhibited or stimulated by exposure to light delivered via fiber optics. Optogenetics has never been used in people, however the success of the approach in animal models demonstrates a proof of principal: A neural network can be precisely targeted.
Thanks in part to the BRAIN Initiative, research on neural circuitry is gaining momentum. The Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative is accelerating the development and application of new technologies that enable researchers to produce dynamic pictures of the brain that show how individual brain cells and complex neural circuits interact at the speed of thought.
NIH Publication No. 15-5595
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New Study Indicates Parkinsons Disease Is 50% More Prevalent Than Previously Thought
The results of a new study show that the incidence of Parkinsons disease , or the number of new cases diagnosed per year, is 50% higher than previously estimated. Instead of past estimates of 60,000 new cases of PD diagnosed per year, the new study determined that there are approximately 90,000 new cases of PD diagnosed in the US per year.
In addition, the study looked at the geographical variation of diagnoses and found a higher incidence of PD in certain areas of the Midwest and South, as well as in southern California, southeastern Texas, central Pennsylvania, and Florida.
This current finding builds on past work that updated the estimates of the prevalence of PD, or the total number of people diagnosed in a population. About four years ago, a crucial study determined the prevalence of PD to be approximately one million in the United States. The study estimated that the prevalence will increase to 1.3 million by 2030, which aligns with an increase in the incidence, or the number of cases being diagnosed.
Why Does This Matter For The Pd Community
Research like this study increases awareness for the critical need for more resources devoted to helping better understand this disease, and how to help those fighting it every day. A clearer understanding of the incidence of PD in the U.S. helps organizations, researchers and care teams adapt to the evolving needs of the PD community and could serve as a framework for a global assessment of the disease.
The Parkinsons Foundation will utilize this data to help us provide tailored resources, outreach and advocacy to those who need access to resources and information so that they can live better with Parkinsons.
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Parkinsons Disease Is Actually 50% More Common In The Us Than Current Estimates
Current estimates put the number of Parkinsons disease diagnoses at 60,000 annually. However, new research reveals that the actual incidence rate is nearly 90,000 diagnoses each year, which is 50% higher.
New Parkinsons disease incidence rate totals nearly 90,000 diagnoses each year, compared to previous estimates of 60,000 diagnoses annually.
Parkinsons disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimers disease. It is much more common in older age, with a population prevalence of 4% at age 80 compared to 1% at age 60. It is a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, rigidity, and difficulty with balance and coordination. Symptoms usually begin gradually and worsen over time, with cognitive decline common at later stages. As the disease progresses, people may have difficulty walking and talking.
New research reveals that the annual incidence of Parkinsons disease among older adults is actually 50% higher than current estimates of 60,000 diagnoses annually. Published today in the scientific journal npj Parkinsons disease, the peer-reviewed study measured new cases of Parkinsons disease, or the number of people diagnosed with PD per year.
The key findings include:
The study was supported by the Parkinsons Foundation and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research , as well as the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences .
Support For People Living With Parkinsons Disease
While the progression of Parkinsons is usually slow, eventually a persons daily routines may be affected. Activities such as working, taking care of a home, and participating in social activities with friends may become challenging. Experiencing these changes can be difficult, but support groups can help people cope. These groups can provide information, advice, and connections to resources for those living with Parkinsons disease, their families, and caregivers. The organizations listed below can help people find local support groups and other resources in their communities.
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What Causes Parkinsons Disease
The most prominent signs and symptoms of Parkinsons disease occur when nerve cells in the basal ganglia, an area of the brain that controls movement, become impaired and/or die. Normally, these nerve cells, or neurons, produce an important brain chemical known as dopamine. When the neurons die or become impaired, they produce less dopamine, which causes the movement problems associated with the disease. Scientists still do not know what causes the neurons to die.
People with Parkinsons disease also lose the nerve endings that produce norepinephrine, the main chemical messenger of the sympathetic nervous system, which controls many functions of the body, such as heart rate and blood pressure. The loss of norepinephrine might help explain some of the non-movement features of Parkinsons, such as fatigue, irregular blood pressure, decreased movement of food through the digestive tract, and sudden drop in blood pressure when a person stands up from a sitting or lying position.
Many brain cells of people with Parkinsons disease contain Lewy bodies, unusual clumps of the protein alpha-synuclein. Scientists are trying to better understand the normal and abnormal functions of alpha-synuclein and its relationship to genetic mutations that impact Parkinsons andLewy body dementia.
Incidence And Prevalence Of Pd In The Norwegian Population Between 2005 And 2016
The crude incidence for PD between 2005 and 2016 was on average 23.1 for females and 29.6 for males, per 100,000 person-years. The prevalence for PD in the population was on average 0.2% of the females and 0.23% of the males in the general population, and 0.98% of the females and 1.35% of the males for the population > 65 years. For both sexes, the age-specific incidence and prevalence increased with age, peaking at the 7585 age group . However, while the male/female PD prevalence ratio remained ~1.5 across all age groups , the male/female incidence ratio changed with age, increasing by 1.2% for every year of life . Substantial variation in both incidence and prevalence was observed over the 20052016 observation period, for which the measures were calculated . There was no general time-trend in the incidence of PD during the observation period, though a significant decrease was observed among the 3059 age group . In contrast, PD prevalence significantly increased during the observation period in all age groups, with the exception of the 3059 group, for which only a trend for increased prevalence was observed . Interestingly, the yearly rise in PD prevalence increased with age, with the biggest differences observed for older populations .
Table 1 Age- and sex-adjusted PD incidence, prevalence, and mortality.Fig. 1: Incidence and prevalence of PD in the Norwegian population during 20052016.
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Sidebar: Ninds Steps Up Pursuit Of Pd Biomarkers
In 2012, the NINDS dramatically accelerated efforts to identify biomarkers by establishing the Parkinsons Disease Biomarkers Program . This unprecedented program unites a range of stakeholders from basic and clinical researchers to healthcare professionals, the NINDS staff, information technology experts, and people living with PD and their families.
PDBP supports research and builds resources aimed at accelerating the discovery of biomarkers to ultimately slow the progression of PD. For example, the program has established a repository of biological specimens and a Data Management Resource system maintained by the NIH Center for Information Technology. The DMR allows researchers to access clinical, imaging, genetic, and biologic data, while a complementary PDBP-supported project develops statistical tools to analyze vast quantities of data so that patterns can be identified across these diverse sources of information.
The United States Of America
Experts believe that around 1 million Americans have PD, which is higher than people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis altogether. Each year, 60 thousand Americans are diagnosed with PD. Note that this number does not capture the thousands of cases that are yet to be discovered.The estimation of the direct and indirect costs for PD, including the relief methods, disability, and the lost income due to the inability to work, is around 25 billion dollars yearly. Wherein the average cost of PD medications is 2.500$ a year. While surgery can cost up to 100.000$ for each patient.
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What Is The Prevalence
It is important to understand the difference between incidence and prevalence. Incidence is the number of new cases of a disease that are diagnosed in a time period. Usually, incidence is the number of new cases per year.3
Prevalence is the number of cases of a disease that exist at any point in time. This number is larger because it includes new cases and all the existing cases of a disease.3
In 2014, the Parkinsons Foundation started a project to get a better measurement of PD prevalence. Currently, there are an estimated 1 million people in the United States living with PD. About 60,000 people in the United States are diagnosed each year with PD in the United States. Experts estimate there will be 1.2 million people in the United States living with PD by 2030.1,3
Geographical Variation In Pd Incidence
The age and sex adjusted county rates of newly diagnosed, treated Parkinson disease among eligible Medicare beneficiaries, with Bayesian hierarchical modeling and smoothing to increase the precision of estimates in less populous areas, is shown in Fig. . A clustering of counties with a higher incidence of PD was observed at the juxtaposition of the Midwestern and Southern regions of the United States. Other higher incidence areas were found in southern California, southeastern Texas, central Pennsylvania, and Florida. Lower incidence areas included the Mountain West region, the western Midwest, and the far Northwest.
Fig. 2
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Medicines For Parkinsons Disease
Medicines can help treat the symptoms of Parkinsons by:
- Increasing the level of dopamine in the brain
- Having an effect on other brain chemicals, such as neurotransmitters, which transfer information between brain cells
- Helping control non-movement symptoms
The main therapy for Parkinsons is levodopa. Nerve cells use levodopa to make dopamine to replenish the brains dwindling supply. Usually, people take levodopa along with another medication called carbidopa. Carbidopa prevents or reduces some of the side effects of levodopa therapy such as nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, and restlessness and reduces the amount of levodopa needed to improve symptoms.
People living with Parkinsons disease should never stop taking levodopa without telling their doctor. Suddenly stopping the drug may have serious side effects, like being unable to move or having difficulty breathing.
The doctor may prescribe other medicines to treat Parkinsons symptoms, including:
- Dopamine agonists to stimulate the production of dopamine in the brain
- Enzyme inhibitors to increase the amount of dopamine by slowing down the enzymes that break down dopamine in the brain
- Amantadine to help reduce involuntary movements
- Anticholinergic drugs to reduce tremors and muscle rigidity
Patient Selection And Diagnostic Criteria
We selected all PD patients registered in the RID program during the 6-year study period. The diagnostic criteria for PD established by the NHI in the RID program are similar to the UK PD society brain bank clinical diagnostic criteria, and are as follows: 1) diagnosis of Parkinsonian syndrome : mild or worse bradykinesia and at least one of the following: muscular rigidity, rest tremor, postural instability 2) the exclusion criteria for PD: history of strokes, head injury, definite encephalitis, drug side effects, and hypoxia 3) supportive prospective positive criteria for PD: three or more required for diagnosis of definite PD in combination with step one: unilateral onset, rest tremor present, progressive disorder, persistent asymmetry affecting the side of onset most, excellent response to levodopa, severe levodopa-induced chorea, levodopa response for 5years or more, clinical course of 10years or more.
The database did not contain any personal identifiers as all identifiable personal information in the database was removed to comply with the privacy rules of the health insurance portability and accountability act. Informed consent was not required for this study as all the data was obtained from medical records. This study was performed based on the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki of the World Medical Association. All procedural and ethical aspects of this study were approved by the Institutional Review Board of Korea University Ansan Hospital .
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Paraquat Parkinsons Disease Risks
In recent years, studies have linked exposure to the herbicide Paraquat to an increased risk of Parkinsons disease. The widely used herbicide has been blamed for causing higher rates of Parkinsons disease cases among farmers and workers in the agricultural community, who were exposed to the chemical while mixing, spraying and handling Paraquat, or being in the area where it was applied to fields.
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Although Paraquat is already heavily restricted in the United States due to the risk of life-threatening toxicity if even a small amount of the weed killer is ingested, there are now a growing number of Paraquat lawsuits being pursued by former users diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, indicating that studies have found exposure may be linked to a two- to five-fold increased risk among individuals regularly handling, mixing and spraying Paraquat, compared to populations that do not have such occupational exposure.
There are currently more than 2,000 product liability cases filed against Syngenta and Chevron in the federal courts, each raising similar allegations that the companies failed to warn farmers and agricultural users about the link between Paraquat and Parkinsons disease, which research has found may develop years after regularly spraying, mixing, transporting or handling the weed killer.
How Many People Are Living With Parkinson’s
The new study found that 90,000 Americans a year are diagnosed with Parkinson’s, up from the previous estimate of 60,000. This finding is based on five previous prevalence studies, including data through 2012, so it is likely an underestimate, Okun said.
Men are nearly twice as likely as women to receive the diagnosis, according to the research, and incidence generally increases with age beginning in the 60s.
A 2018 study from the Parkinsons Prevalence Project estimated that 930,000 people in the U.S. would be living with Parkinson’s by 2020 and 1.2 million by 2030, largely driven by the aging population.
Pinpointing the incidence rate can help convince lawmakers to direct more funding to Parkinson’s research and companies to invest in treatments, said Jim Beck, a study co-author and chief scientific officer for the Parkinson’s Foundation, which helped fund the new study along with the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences.
“We want to use this data to encourage policy makers to reconsider how much funding Parkinson’s disease gets and the impact on society,” he said. “There’s a real call to action here.”
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