Epidemiology of Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

Just after Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease (PD) is considered the second most prevalent chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder with an increased prevalence in the elderly population, affecting men slightly more frequently than women, and often resulting in disability, dependence on care, reduced quality of life, and premature death. Regarding the etiology of PD, it is a complex disease involving both genetic and lifestyle factors as well as environmental factors. In addition to the cardinal motor symptoms, non-motor symptoms and comorbidities of PD are increasingly recognized as central to the disease. These include somatic symptoms, such as pain and autonomic dysfunction (orthostatic hypotension, bladder dysfunction, and constipation), and behavioral problems, such as dementia, impulse control disorders, sleep disorders, fatigue, and psychosis. The epidemiological study of the different symptoms and comorbidities related to PD helps to understand their causes and consequently to know how to reduce the incidence and impact of these dysfunctions in the disease.