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Parkinson’s disease has emerged as one of the fastest-growing neurological disorders worldwide, with experts projecting a dramatic surge in cases of the progressive brain disorder over the coming decades.
A recent study published in the BMJ medical journal predicts that the number of people affected worldwide could more than double – from 11.9 million in 2021 to over 25 million by 2050.
The biggest increases are expected in countries with large populations like China, India and the United States.
While Parkinson’s often reveals itself through visible signs such as tremors, slowed movement and trouble with balance, experts say the disease starts developing long before symptoms appear – in what is known as the “silent phase”.
This makes early detection and preventive care especially important.

Parkinson’s occurs when nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine – a chemical crucial for movement – begin to die.
A key culprit is believed to be the protein alpha-synuclein, which can clump together in the brain.
However, the exact cause of the disease remains unknown. Scientists believe it results from a mix of environmental, genetic and metabolic factors.
In addition to tremors, people with Parkinson’s often experience stiff muscles, trouble walking, balance problems, and reduced facial expressions or speech changes.
Many also face sleep issues, a weakened sense of smell, depression, cognitive decline and even dementia.

Studies suggest that a whole range of environmental toxins increase the risk of Parkinson’s, including pesticides in particular.
“What many pesticides have in common is that they trigger inflammatory processes in the brain and oxidative stress,” explains neurological expert Dr Eva Schäffer from Kiel University in Germany.
In addition, pesticides also alter metabolic processes and trigger other mechanisms in the brain that contribute to the disease.
Air pollution and the solvent trichloroethylene, still used in some industrial settings, are also under scrutiny, Schäffer adds.
Lifestyle also plays a key role: lack of exercise and a diet high in ultra-processed foods are linked to higher risk.
These nutrients [in a balanced diet] support a healthy gut microbiome,. And we know there’s a strong connection between gut health and brain health
Dr Eva Schäffer, neurological expert
While about 10 per cent of cases are genetic, most can be influenced by lifestyle choices.
“Moderate endurance exercise can cut the risk by up to 60 per cent,” Schäffer says. It doesn’t need to be a specific sport – any activity that gets your heart rate up helps.
A balanced diet rich in fibre, fruits, vegetables and legumes is also important.
“These nutrients support a healthy gut microbiome,” says Schäffer. “And we know there’s a strong connection between gut health and brain health.”
Interestingly, many Parkinson’s patients report digestive issues, like chronic constipation, years before diagnosis.

Healthy habits remain key even after a diagnosis. Regular physical activity and a gut-friendly diet can also help slow the disease’s progression and ease non-motor symptoms like depression or digestive problems.
Medication is also essential, especially drugs that replace dopamine.
“We aim for the right balance,” says Schäffer. “Too little dopamine causes stiffness, but too much can make movement uncontrolled – both of which make it harder to stay active.”
Parkinson’s is not curable, but treatment can help people manage symptoms and maintain quality of life.
Along with medication, physical and occupational therapy can make a major difference. In more advanced stages, deep brain stimulation (DBS) – a surgical procedure that uses implanted electrodes to regulate brain activity – may be recommended.
A newer form of DBS, called beta-sensing, is showing promise. Neurologist Brit Mollenhauer, a professor at the University Medical Centre Göttingen in Germany, explains: “It not only stimulates the brain but also reads signals to fine-tune exactly when and where the stimulation is needed.”
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Wellness

How to lower your Parkinson’s disease risk and slow its onset as cases rise worldwide

As cases of Parkinson’s disease increase globally, there are ways to reduce your risk, including exercise (above) and a good diet. 
Photo: Shutterstock

A diet high in ultra-processed foods is linked to a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease.  Photo: Shutterstock

Pesticides trigger inflammatory processes in the brain and oxidative stress, says neurological expert Dr Eva Schäffer from Kiel University in Germany. Photo: researchgate.net/profile/Eva-Schäffer

Symptoms of  Parkinson’s include stiff muscles, trouble walking, balance problems, and reduced facial expressions or speech changes. Illustration: Shutterstock

What is Parkinson’s disease? Symptoms, possible causes, treatment and progress towards a cure for the disorder that famously afflicts Michael J Fox

An estimated 6 million people worldwide live with Parkinson’s disease, including actor Michael J Fox. We look at the symptoms, possible causes, treatment and progress towards a cure. Photo: Getty Images

The frontispiece to James Parkinson’s “Essay on the Shaking Palsy”, written in 1817.

Fox with his wife Tracy Pollan at the “Back To The Future Part 2” Los Angeles premiere in 1989, two years before he was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease. Photo: Getty Images

Professor Ho Shu-leong is chief of the neurology division at the University of Hong Kong. Photo: University of Hong Kong

Fox and Pollan at a showing of “Still”, a film about Fox’s life, in Austin, Texas, on March 14, 2023. Photo: Getty Images

How to prevent dementia, and 10 things to ask a doctor to help safeguard your brain health

Doctors should be able to answer your questions about dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

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Sleep and dementia are linked, research suggests. A University College London study of people in their fifties and sixties found that those who got less than seven hours a night were at greater risk. Photo: Shutterstock

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What 4 nutrition experts eat for breakfast, and what they say about the best foods to have

Nutrition experts describe eating a variety of healthy breakfast foods that include avocado, muesli, eggs, chia pudding, oatmeal, fruits, berries, nuts and seeds. Photo: Shutterstock

Avocado toast with basil, and peanut butter and berries toast contain several of the ingredients nutrition experts include in their healthy breakfasts. Photo: Shutterstock 

Sandra Carvajal offers this simple recipe for a healthy breakfast: blend fresh or frozen fruit with nut milk, a couple of dates, and chia seeds. Let it sit for 30 minutes or overnight. Serve with Greek yogurt, nut butter and top with seeds. Photo: Instagram.com/sandracarvajall2y

For nutritional therapist Katia Demekhina, breakfast consists of a mix of protein, healthy fats and fibre. Photo: Katia Demekhina

Nutrition experts describe eating varied healthy breakfasts that include avocado, muesli, eggs, chia pudding, oatmeal, fruits, berries, nuts and seeds. Photo: Shutterstock

Puja Kumari, a nutritionist and holistic practitioner, often opts for overnight oats with nuts, seeds and fruit for breakfast. Photo: Puja Kumari

If Sandra Carvajal plans a morning workout, she has a small high-protein bite beforehand, and then a high-protein breakfast an hour after training. Photo: Sandra Carvajal

Alexa Mullane, a nutritionist specialising in female hormonal health and perimenopause, says women who skip breakfast have increased levels of the so-called stress hormone cortisol. Photo: Alexa Mullane

Testing for dementia by asking patients to draw a clock, walk and talk, stand on one leg

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Dr Baibing Chen says the clock-drawing test is especially useful in judging brain health. Photo: Dr Baibing Chen

If a person has trouble with the balance test, standing on one leg for up to 30 seconds, it can indicate problems with motor coordination or even early signs of neurodegenerative conditions. Photo: Shutterstock

A diminished sense of smell is often one of the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, sometimes predating cognitive symptoms by years. It can also be a symptom of Covid-19. Photo: Shutterstock

Tests must be conducted within the context of the patient’s overall health, history, and current symptoms. Photo: Shutterstock

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Just as not all memory lapses mean someone has dementia, “failing” these tests does not necessarily mean they suffer from it. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle

Health & Wellness

Health

Study estimates 25 million people could have Parkinson’s by 2050. Healthy habits can prevent it or slow its progression


Study estimates 25 million people could have Parkinson’s by 2050. Healthy habits can prevent it or slow its progression.
