Parkinson’s disease is killing more people than ever
THOUSANDS of people are being killed by Parkinson’s disease - and the number is on the rise. New analysis from the Office for National Statistics reveals that 6,505 people died from the degenerative disease in 2018. That works out as 18 deaths a day, on average. The number was up from 5,935 the year before and marks the highest number since 2000, when modern records began. That year, 2,645 people were directly killed by Parkinson’s disease and the number has trended upwards ever since. The illness is caused by a loss of nerve cells in part of the brain - though it’s not clear what actually causes the loss of nerve cells. It leads to a loss of dopamine, which plays a vital role in regulating the body’s movement. This is what is responsible for many symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The NHS says the three main symptoms include involuntary tremors, slow movement, and stiff and inflexible muscles. There is currently no cure for the disease. Nearly two-thirds of the deaths (3,986) were for men while the remaining 2,519 were for women. The data also provides an age breakdown. There were 2,674 people aged 85 and older who died from Parkinson’s disease in 2018 - by far the largest number among any age group. It seems the death prevalence increases with age. Just three people aged between 50 and 54 were killed by the illness. Katie Goates, Professional Communications Manager at Parkinson’s UK, said: “Parkinson’s is a progressive condition with over 40 symptoms which everyone experiences differently. “For the majority of people, Parkinson’s will not significantly affect their life expectancy. “However, some of the more advanced symptoms can lead to increased disability and poor health, which can make someone more vulnerable to infection. “Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, and currently there is no cure. “It affects an estimated 145,000 people across the UK. “More men than women get Parkinson’s, in fact, men aged 50-89 are 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s than women. “Currently, we don’t know why this is, but it may be due to a combination of biological factors and lifestyle factors. “By better understanding the causes of the condition, we hope that we’ll soon be able to treat some of the more serious symptoms.”