Epidemiology

Incidence and Prevalence

• Parkinson’s Disease predominantly affects older individuals, with about 1% of the population over the age of 65 years being affected.
• The incidence and prevalence of PD rise with advancing age, indicating a strong age-related component in its development.

Early-Onset Parkinson’s Disease (EOPD)

• EOPD is characterized by the onset of parkinsonian features before the age of 40 years.
• It accounts for about 3-5% of all PD cases.
• EOPD is further classified into:
  • ‘Juvenile’ onset, occurring before the age of 21 years.
  • ‘Young-onset’ PD (YOPD), occurring between the ages of 21 and 40 years.

Gender Differences

• PD is observed to be twice as common in men as compared to women across most populations.
• This gender disparity in PD prevalence might be due to:
  • The protective effect of female sex hormones.
  • Possible gender-associated genetic mechanisms.
  • Gender-specific differences in exposure to environmental risk factors.

These epidemiological trends highlight the importance of considering age and gender factors in the risk assessment, early detection, and management strategies for Parkinson’s Disease​​.