The month of April is dedicated to raising awareness of Parkinson’s disease (PD), the main aim of which is to disseminate key information on disease symptoms, pathology, and useful resources for individuals suffering from the condition and those close to them. The Parkinson’s Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, provides up-to-date weekly information on PD during Parkinson’s Awareness Month; it also offers a host of information delivered through a range of different mediums, ranging from podcasts and fact sheets to videos.
PD is a chronic and progressive condition that affects muscle control and cognitive impairment. It is the second most common age-related degenerative brain disease and the most common motor brain disease, the symptoms of which worsen and intensify with time, and as the disease progresses into the latter stages, include trouble chewing and swallowing and depression. It is an age-related disease, so it is typically diagnosed in those over the age of 50 years; however, early-onset PD can manifest in young adults in their twenties, although this is very rare.
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There is currently no cure for PD, and the associated mortality and morbidity globally are increasing. GlobalData epidemiologists estimate that by the end of 2025, there will be 10.33 million diagnosed prevalent cases of men and women aged 18 years and above with PD in 16 major markets (16MM: US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, South Korea). That number is forecast to increase to 13.01 million diagnosed prevalent cases by the end of 2033.
PD risk factors can be divided into genetic and environmental components, the latter of which results in idiopathic PD where the reason and cause of the disease are unknown to the physician and cannot be traced to a familial relationship. The only confirmed causes of PD are genetic, and so far, scientists have linked at least seven genes to the condition. The diagnosis of PD is not straightforward as there is no single universal test or procedure but a combination of examining medical history, family history, neurological exams, and sometimes specialized scans. Education dissemination on recognizing the early signs of PD and symptom management is useful and key to managing the chronic condition.
