Scientists from the United States and the Netherlands said that in the near future, the world will be gripped by a Parkinson's disease pandemic due to demographics and other factors. This is reported in an article published in IOS Press.
Nervous system disorders are one of the main causes of disability in the modern world, and Parkinson's disease has become the most common in recent decades. This yet incurable disorder is caused by the death of dopamine-producing neurons, resulting in patients developing tremors, muscle stiffness, postural instability and loss of balance. From 1990 to 2015, the number of patients with the disease exceeded six million. According to scientists, by 2040, due to the increase in the average age of the population, the number of patients will exceed 12 million.
Other factors that increase the risk of developing neurodegenerative disease are pesticides, solvents, and heavy metals released into the environment. In addition, some studies suggest that non-smokers are more likely to have Parkinson's disease, but a causal relationship has yet to be proven.
According to experts, a pandemic can be prevented, but this will require significant efforts aimed at finding treatment, prevention and care of patients.