The number of people affected by the debilitating nervous system disease Parkinson’s will double over 25 years in the world’s largest countries, with the biggest growth in Asia, scientists have said in a new report.
A team lead by University of Rochester (New York) neurologist Ray Dorsey said that by 2030 the population suffering Parkinson’s in the 15 largest countries will grow to 8.7 million, from 4.1 million currently.
The study, published in the January 30 edition of Neurology, said the key factor in the growth of Parkinson’s is aging populations.
The fastest growth of the disease will be in developing Asia, with an estimated five million people suffering from Parkinson’s in China alone by 2030.
"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," he said in a statement.
The disease, in which the central nervous system degenerates, rises in frequency among people over 65.
