Parkinson Disease Cases Increasing Since Past 30 Years

A new study has found that the cases of Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism have been steadily increasing in the past 30 years from 1976 to 2005. The trend has been particularly noticed for men aged 70 and above.

The study, published in the journal JAMA Neurology, is the first one to suggest such an increasing trend in Parkinson's disease in the last three decades. According to the study, men of all ages have a 17 percent increased risk of developing parkionsonism and 24 percent increased risk of developing Parkinson's diseases for every 10 years.

In addition, the study conducted by Mayo Clinic researchers found that the statistics were even worst for men aged above 70. Such men were found to be at a 24 percent higher risk of developing parkinsonism and 35 percent higher risk of developing Parskinson's disease in the following ten years.

During the study, the researchers looked at the complete medical records of the subjects from the time of their birth to death. All of the subjects, who were from Olmsted County, Minnesota, received at least one diagnosis related to Parkinson's disease in their entire lifetime.

The records were analyzed by a team of movement disorders specialist who confirmed the diagnosis mentioned in the medical records and also classified the different types of parkinsonism, including Parkinson's disease.

According to researcher Rodolfo Savica of the Mayo Clinic, the trends revealed by the study are real and there is a reason why they should be considered as real. The researchers believe that there has been a genuine increase in the number of cases related to Parkinson's disease.

The researchers believe that the changes in exposure to certain agents that increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease has resulted in this trend. The changes in environmental conditions in the past 70 years and the risk factors in the form of pesticides, smoking or other agents are the primary reasons behind the Parkinson's disease trend.