Mapping the Parkinson's pandemic: Unveiling and addressing the global burden

Worldwide, the incidence, prevalence, disability, and mortality associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) have increased substantially, placing an immense strain on healthcare systems across countries of all income levels, prompting the use of the term “Parkinson pandemic” to emphasize the urgent need for coordinated strategies to address its worldwide impact. This narrative review explores the regional differences in the dramatic increase in PD burden, along with its genetic, environmental, and socioeconomic determinants worldwide. Furthermore, it discusses the healthcare access in different regions and proposes strategies to combat this pandemic. The rising burden of PD is largely driven by population aging, increased life expectancy, and potentially by greater exposure to by-products of industrialization—such as pesticides, air pollution and heavy metals- and declining smoking rates, which vary across world regions. Differences in prevalence, demographic, genetic and lifestyle factors, the impact of urbanization and environmental risk factors, as well as inequality and disparities in access to care and healthcare services, have been outlined, mandating the development of tailored and region-specific strategies to mitigate the pandemic and reduce its burden globally and regionally. These strategies include exploring relevant genetic and environmental determinants, promoting research, increasing public awareness, facilitating early diagnosis and optimal management, improving access to healthcare services, supporting caregivers, encouraging the adoption of protective lifestyle factors, ensuring the availability of essential medications and controlling environmental exposures such as toxicants.