{"id":10435,"date":"2025-01-20T09:58:34","date_gmt":"2025-01-20T08:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/lcsb-en\/?post_type=news&p=10435"},"modified":"2025-01-28T15:45:09","modified_gmt":"2025-01-28T14:45:09","slug":"regional-decline-in-incidence-rate-of-parkinson-disease","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/lcsb-en\/news\/regional-decline-in-incidence-rate-of-parkinson-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Regional decline in the incidence rate of Parkinson’s disease – A trend worth exploring"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A new cohort study analysing health insurance data from Germany reveals an intriguing trend: the rate of new cases of Parkinson\u2019s disease (PD), also referred to as age-specific incidence, is declining. Researchers from the University of Luxembourg and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) analysed data between 2006 and 2018 from nearly 450,000 individuals insured by Germany\u2019s largest health provider AOK and showed that the risk of developing Parkinson\u2019s dropped by about one fifth in individuals over 50, even after adjusting for known PD risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, and traumatic brain injury. At the same time, the average age of diagnosis shifted upwards by nearly two years in men and slightly less than one year in women, indicating a potential shift toward later onset. The study has recently been published in Journal of Parkinson\u2019s Disease<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nRegional differences to be studied in a complex global context<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe declining incidence rates in Germany are encouraging, but must be viewed in the context of the increasing number of people already affected by Parkinson\u2019s disease as people live longer. In addition, a large number of baby boomers is now entering the older age groups where the risk of Parkinson\u2019s is high. Therefore, the absolute number of cases will continue to rise, even though age-specific rates have declined and may continue to decline,\u201d explains Dr Anne Fink<\/a>, researcher at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases<\/a> (DZNE) and first author of the study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The recent German findings align with similar studies in Canada, South Korea, and the Netherlands, which also report declining or stable PD incidence rates. However, contrasting trends in countries like the United States, where PD incidence is increasing, suggest a role of regional societal or environmental factors, such as pesticide and industrial solvent exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are most likely a multitude of factors at play\u201d, says Prof. Jochen Schneider<\/a>, principal investigator of the Medical Translational Research group<\/a> at the University\u2019s Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine<\/a> (LCSB) and Department of Life Science and Medicine<\/a>. \u201cPrevious research has shown that certain pesticides have neurotoxic effects. Paraquat, for example, has been linked to Parkinson\u2019s disease and its use has been banned by the European Union (EU) in 2007.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other factors include improved air quality and decreased exposure to neurotoxic chemicals such as trichloroethylene (TCE). Commonly used as an industrial metal degreasing solvent, this compound has also been linked to the disease and was banned in the EU in 2016. Regions, such as the United States, where TCE and pesticides like paraquat remain prevalent have shown increasing PD incidence rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nThe road ahead: isolating biological and societal factors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While the exact reasons for declining PD incidence in Germany remain unclear, the findings highlight the complexity of disease dynamics. Factors like birth cohort size, improved healthcare access, and changing diagnostic patterns could contribute to the observed trends. \u201cOur results underscore the need for further research to disentangle the biological and societal factors shaping these trends,\u201d Dr Fink notes. Further understanding the underlying risk factors could pave the way for innovative public health strategies, fostering healthier aging worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe observed decline in incidence rates offers hope, but as those diagnosed are living longer we need continued research and innovation in diagnostics, disease-modifying therapies, and patient support,\u201d concludes Prof. Jochen Schneider.


—<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Original publication:<\/strong> Fink A, Pavlou MAS, Roomp K, Schneider JG. Declining trends in the incidence of Parkinson\u2019s disease: A cohort study in Germany<\/a>. Journal of Parkinson\u2019s Disease<\/em>. December 2024. Doi:10.1177\/1877718X241306132

Top picture based on an image designed by Freepik.<\/sub><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n

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\nMeet the researcher<\/h2>\n
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    \n \n\"Assist.\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n
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    Assist. Prof Jochen SCHNEIDER<\/h3>\n

    Assistant professor \/ Senior research scientist, Medical Translational Research group<\/p>\n

    \n \n \n Learn more<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/use><\/svg> <\/a>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    \nDiscover more<\/h2>\n\n
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    • \n \n \n \n Medical Translational Research <\/span>\n <\/use><\/svg> <\/span>\n <\/a>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \n \n \n \n The hidden role of air pollution in cognitive decline <\/span>\n <\/use><\/svg> <\/span>\n <\/a>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \n \n \n \n The genetics of Parkinson\u2019s in Luxembourg <\/span>\n <\/use><\/svg> <\/span>\n <\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/div>\n<\/section><\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":10436,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"featured_image_focal_point":{"x":0.5,"y":1},"show_featured_caption":false,"ulux_newsletter_groups":"","uluxPostTitle":"","uluxPrePostTitle":"","_trash_the_other_posts":false,"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false},"news-category":[4],"news-topic":[19],"organisation":[202,214],"authorship":[55],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nRegional decline in the incidence rate of Parkinson's disease<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n