Parkinson’s disease to double by 2050, driven by ageing population: study

More than 2.5 crore people in the world could be living with Parkinson's disease by 2050, largely driven by an ageing population, according to a study published in the BMJ.

A modelling study led by academics at the the Capital Medical University in Beijing, China used data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 to estimate the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease from 2022 to 2050 in 195 countries, reported the Independent.

The projected numbers are a 112 per cent increase from cases in 2021.

Further, cases of the neurological disorder from South Asia are predicted to be the second highest at 68 lakh, following East Asia (over 1 crore), the findings published in the BMJ suggested.

According to the researchers, the estimates could "serve as an aid in promoting health research, informing policy decisions and allocating resources."

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder steadily affecting one's movements and balance. This condition can also affect a person's speech, memory and behaviour.

The most visible symptoms include tremors in parts of the body and muscle stiffness.

According to the Telegraph, the authors wrote, "25.2 million people (are) projected to be living with Parkinson's disease worldwide in 2050, representing a 112 per cent increase from 2021."

Population ageing is predicted to be the main factor driving nearly 90 per cent of the projected cases, they said.

Western sub-Saharan Africa could be expected to see the most pronounced spike, of almost 300 per cent, in cases. East and South Asia could see the highest case numbers overall, meanwhile.

It is also expected that the men-to-women ratio in Parkinson's cases could increase from 1.46 in 2021 to 1.64 in 2050 the world over.

However, increasing physical activity could reduce the future number of Parkinson's disease cases.

The results point to an urgent need for "future research to focus on the development of novel drugs, gene engineering techniques, and cell replacement therapies that are aimed at modifying the course of the disease and improving patients' quality of life", the authors said.