According to the ‘Parkinson’s disease: a public health approach’ report prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO), Parkinson’s cases have doubled in the last 25 years, reaching 8.5 million people in 2019.
It is a degenerative condition of the brain associated with motor symptoms (slow motion, tremor, stiffness, and unsteadiness while walking) and a wide variety of non-motor complications (cognitive impairment, mental health disorders, pain and other sensory disorders).
motor disorders, including involuntary movements (dyskinesia) and painful involuntary muscle contractions (dystonia), to contribute speech limitations, mobility and therefore restrictions in many areas of life. The progression of these symptoms and complications significantly reduces functionality and quality of life, resulting in high levels of disability and need for care, as well as stress and burden on caregivers.
In this sense, the body has warned that disability and death from Parkinson’s are dangerous. increasing “faster” than other neurological disorders. In fact, current estimates show that in 2019, it caused 5.8 million disabled life years, an 81 percent increase since 2000, and 329,000 deaths, an increase of more than 100 percent since 2000.
Now, despite the significant impact of the disease, the WHO, “inequality“The availability of resources and services to provide treatment and care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), is available. That is, the WHO Atlas of Neurology (2017) provides estimates of 0.03 neurologists per 100,000 people in low-income countries and 100,000 in high-income countries. 4.75 per person.
For all these reasons, the body United Nations highlighted the need to promote global health policies to implement strategies focused on Parkinson’s disease; improve education and awareness to prevent and reduce the risks of pathology; ensuring access to treatment and health services.