Abstract
BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) has emerged as a major global public health challenge. However, there is currently a lack of systematic analysis regarding the burden of PD and its long-term trends among people over 55 years of age. METHODS: This study utilizes data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database to analyze the prevalence, incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and mortality rates of PD in individuals aged 55 and older from 1990 to 2021. The annual percentage change was calculated to assess the temporal trends of the disease burden. Point estimates and their corresponding ranges were reported with 95% uncertainty intervals. RESULTS: Globally, the prevalence, incidence, DALYs, and mortality rates of PD in individuals aged 55 and above significantly increased from 1990 to 2021, with all indicators being higher in males than in females. This trend was evident across all five Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) groups and in 21 regions worldwide. The number of prevalent cases, incident cases, DALYs, and deaths all showed significant increases and were positively correlated with SDI (R = 0.645, P < 0.001). Among 185 countries, the incidence rate increased, with DALY rates rising in 74 countries and mortality rates rising in 65 countries. Notably, in the population aged 95 years and older, the prevalence and incidence of PD showed particularly remarkable increases, at 735% and 505%, respectively. Furthermore, the greatest increase in prevalence was observed in the 55-59 age group, especially in countries with Middle SDI and High-middle SDI regions. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the burden of PD in individuals aged 55 and above has significantly increased over the past three decades. This trend reflects the profound impact of global aging and socioeconomic development levels on the burden of PD, underscoring the urgency of addressing PD as a major global public health challenge.