Parkinson's Disease Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Parkinson's Disease, including details on symptoms, treatment, genetics, medication.

The prevalence of PD in a nutritionally deficient rural population in China.

Zhang L, Nie ZY, Liu Y, Chen W, Xin SM, Sun XD, Fan JH, Liu YH, Gao XH, Lu LQ, Como P, McDermott MP, Qiao YL, Kieburtz K

Department of Neurology, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. lin.zhang@ucdmc.ucdmc.ucdavies.edu

OBJECTIVES: In most reports, the prevalence of PD in mainland China is lower than in western populations. To estimate PD prevalence in China, we performed a cross-sectional study in a rural population in Linxian County, China. PRIMARY OUTCOMES: Clinical diagnosis of PD. RESULTS: Among the 16,488 participants examined, the overall age- and gender-adjusted prevalence rate of PD was 522/100,000 (95% CI: 477-567) assuming no cases of PD would be found among those younger than 50 years of age. The gender-adjusted prevalence rates were 103 (95% CI: 83-123), 621 (95% CI: 572-670), 902 (95% CI: 843-961), and 1744 (95% CI: 1662-1826) per 100,000 in age groups 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and 80 and above, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The estimated prevalence of PD in Linxian, China is higher than most of those reported from other areas in China, and similar to those reported from non-Asian populations.

Published 3 June 2005 in Acta Neurol Scand, 112(1): 29-35.
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