Epidemiological study reveals highest prevalence of PD in Whites and Hispanics, Northeast and Midwest

Published in Neuroepidemiology, one of the largest epidemiological studies of Parkinson's examines geographic and ethnic variation in Parkinson's disease amongst Medicare recipients.

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have conducted the largest epidemiological study of Parkinson's disease. Red areas on the map indicate a prevalence of 13,800 or more Parkinson's patients per 100,000 Medicare recipients. (Credit: Neuroepidemiology/S. Karger AG)Conducted over six years (1995, 2000-2005) with 450,000 cases per year age 65 or older, the study concludes that Parkinson's is significantly more common in Whites and Hispanics.  White men had the highest prevalence, and Asian females had the lowest. Additionally,  there was a higher prevalence of Parkinson's disease in the Midwest and Northeastern US. Other results include a higher prevalence and incidence in urban versus rural counties.

Wright Willis et al. Geographic and Ethnic Variation in Parkinson Disease: A Population-Based Study of US Medicare Beneficiaries. Neuroepidemiology, 2010; 34 (3): 143 DOI: 10.1159/000275491