Study: US Parkinson's Disease Prevalence 50% Higher Than Prior Estimates
The Facts
According to a study published on Thursday, Parkinson's disease annually strikes nearly 90K Americans aged 65 and over – about 30K more than earlier estimates. At all ages, the incidence was higher in men than in women, the study found.
US studies conducted in the mid-1980s estimated nearly 60K people are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease each year. In 2020, the estimates grew closer to 86K.
The Spin
Narrative A
The findings that Parkinson's rates are higher in the "Rust Belt" states of the US suggest a link between exposure to environmental toxins, such as pesticides and heavy metals, and an increased risk. We must look into the impact of industrialization on Parkinson's risk to explain why some people with genetic risk factors for the disease get it in some geographic regions while others don't.
Narrative B
Environmental factors are important to explore, but there's a clear causal link between rising economic debt and critical illnesses like cancer, heart disease, and lung disease. Parkinson's is a costly disease for patients and their caregivers to treat. Broader research and state intervention are needed on the correlation between this debilitating disease and economic stress.
