A new study made by a team of researchers University of Rochester showed that the number of individuals with Parkinson's disease in 15 of the world's largest nations will double over the next generation.
By 2030, the numbers will double in developing Asian nations and there might be 80 percent more Americans with the disease, according to the reseach.
University of Rochester neurologist Ray Dorsey, M.D., and a team of researchers say the prevalence will grow as populations shift in age. In 2005, an estimated 4.1 million people worldwide had Parkinson's disease. In 25 years, that number is predicted to climb to 8.7 million.
"The bulk of the growth in Parkinson's disease in the next 25 years will not be in the United States and Europe but in other places, namely China, where Parkinson's may not be viewed as a major public health problem," said Dorsey. "Moreover, this growth will occur in societies where there is very limited infrastructure in place to diagnose individuals, much less address their medical needs or the societal impact."
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that impairs motor skills and walking. Despite the fact that the disease is treatable with a combination of medications, therapy and exercise, many individuals in the developing world do not receive appropriate care and may not even be aware of their diagnosis. Dorsey and his colleagues noted that in door-to-door surveys in Bolivia, for example, none of the individuals who were found to have Parkinson's disease had ever seen a physician for their problem.
The growth in chronic diseases such as Parkinson's is one of the unfortunate byproducts of development. Economic growth and the corresponding improvements in health care and education are increasing the life expectancy of individuals in the developing world. In terms of the rise in chronic diseases, the key factor is not overall population growth but rather the number of people over age 65 and thus at risk of developing Parkinson's and other chronic conditions. Furthermore, as income grows, so too does health care spending which, in turn, increases the duration of illness and the overall number of people with a particular disease.
Without the proper systems of medical treatment and social support, chronic diseases can cause significant economic displacement in the form of lost productivity. According to the World Health Organization, China, India, and Russia could forego between $200 billion and $550 billion in national income over the next 10 years as a result of only three chronic diseases: heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Furthermore, 60 percent of deaths worldwide are the result of chronic disease, more than double all infectious diseases, maternal and infant conditions, and nutritional deficiencies combined.
"Understanding and predicting the burden of disease is critical to guiding future health, social and economic policy," said Dorsey. "The challenge for these developing countries that currently don't have the infrastructure in place to care for the small burden they have now is how they will develop this capacity over time recognizing that the costs will grow."
The results of the study were published in the January 30 issue of the journal Neurology.
Digg
Reddit
Slashdot