New Delhi, November 18 (IANS). A report has revealed that the number of patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease (PD) is expected to increase from 2.64 million in 2023 to 3.15 million in 2033, with an annual growth rate (AGR) of 1.94 percent.
The report by data and analytics company GlobalData has revealed that the increase in the prevalence of cases of this brain disease will be seen especially in seven major countries America, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Britain and Japan.
It shows that the US is estimated to have the highest diagnosed prevalence of Parkinson’s cases (1.24 million). Italy will have the lowest number of cases, with about 0.16 million.
“In 2023, adults aged 60 and older will account for more than 90 percent of diagnosed prevalent cases of PD, compared with 1 percent among adults aged 18-39,” said Rahul N. Ravi, senior epidemiologist at GlobalData. The share will be less than Rs.
Among the detected cases, the number of males is slightly higher than that of females. Parkinson’s is an incurable neurodegenerative disease medically classified as a movement disorder with prominent symptoms such as tremors, muscle stiffness. It is the second most common chronic neurodegenerative disease in the elderly, after Alzheimer’s disease.
Although current treatments only provide relief from its symptoms, there is no cure available to stop or slow disease progression.
Ravi said, “Parkinson’s is one of the most common chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorders affecting the elderly population. Since PD primarily affects older adults, countries with increasing aging populations need to improve the health care of individuals with Parkinson’s. Strategies must be developed to meet the needs.”
He said the seven highest-risk countries will become important for PD treatment in the coming 10 years due to their aging populations. In the coming 10 years, seven major countries – America, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Britain and Japan – are most at risk of this disease.
–IANS
MKS/AS
