Previous estimates of the incidence rates of Parkinson's disease was around 60,000 each year. However, findings suggest that annual incidence rates are actually close to 90,000.
Parkinson's Disease, a Neurodegenerative Condition That Comes Second to Alzheimer's
According to SciTechDaily, Parkinson's disease only comes second to Alzheimer's disease as a prevalent neurodegenerative condition. The disease is more prevalent among older ones, with a reported prevalence of around 4% for 80-year-olds and around 1% among 60-year-olds.
Mayo Clinic notes that Parkinson's disease is a disorder that progresses and impacts the nervous system and other parts that are managed by nerves. Symptoms tend to show up slowly and then worsen over time. In fact, the first symptom may be a hardly observable hand tremor on one side. Such tremors are quite common, but the condition may also lead to movement slowness and stiffness. SciTechDaily notes that cognitive decline, specifically, usually takes place at latter stages.
SciTechDaily also notes that this brain condition leads to movements that are not intentional nor controllable. These movements may include rigidity, shaking, and balancing difficulties.
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Parkinson's Disease Has Higher Incidence Than Previously Estimated
A recently published study in Nature shows that annual Parkinson's Disease incidence among older individuals is actually around 50% higher compared to the current estimations of 60,000 annual diagnoses. The specific study looked into new Parkinson's Disease cases and the total number of people that got the said diagnosis each year.
The researcher's key findings were that the incidence of the condition gets higher with age among those who are older than 65 years old. They also found out that incidences are higher among males across different ages.
Other than that, the team also found out how incidence rates were significantly higher among particular geographical areas. Such locations included Southeastern Texas, Southern California, the "Rust Belt" (midwestern and northeastern US that had weighty industrial manufacturing in the past), Florida, and Central Pennsylvania.
Study author and Parkinson's Foundation chief scientific officer James Beck shares how updating the incidence estimates is important to getting an idea about the risk of the disease, plotting out healthcare delivery plans, and addressing disparities in care. He also notes how knowing such data will enable them to offer better service to patients and their families and plan out competitive future healthcare services.
SciTechDaily notes how the recent study is the most extensive evaluation of the condition's incidence across North America. It is grounded on five epidemiological group cohorts in order to tally the diagnosed number back in 2012.
Based on previous smaller scale studies, incidence estimates were around 40,000 to 60,000 each year. However, this new reported incidence rate is remarkably higher. SciTechDaily notes how the biggest risk factor for the condition is age and this higher incidence mirrors the aging individuals' population growth.
Lead author and associate professor Allison Willis shares that a unique finding of their study was that there were many reasons as to why these estimates changed, such as identification of cases and study locales. Willis mentions how the persistence of this condition could be because of environmental, healthcare, or population conditions. Knowing the reasons behind such changes is vital for healthcare planning, research, and policy.
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