DOCUMENT

What’s behind the ‘PARKINSON’SPANDEMIC’? Parkinson’s disease is the world’s fastest-growing neurological disorder, causing great concern as numbers barrel toward ‘epidemic’ proportions. But is this purely the result of an ageing population, or is the incidence of Parkinson’s increasing? T his is a question Dr Toni Pitcher, a Senior Research Fellow from the University of Otago in Christchurch, hopes to answer. She and colleagues have been tracking Parkinson’s trends to highlight the magnitude of the disorder in Aotearoa in order to help an estimated 13,000 New Zealanders living with the disease. The most recent data shows that while the number of people with Parkinson’s is increasing, preliminary research indicates the growth of the number of new cases has slowed in New Zealand, particularly among females. “The increase in cases is consistent with the ageing population,” Toni says. “As the proportion of the population aged over 65 increases, so will the number of people living with age-related disorders such as Parkinson’s. “The change in incidence,” Toni adds, “appears to be driven by fewer females being diagnosed. If confirmed, this may indicate a change in exposure to factors causing the disorder.” More broadly, the project will provide better information on who has Parkinson’s and where they are located within Aotearoa. The study, which relies on medication use and other health data, will also look at time trends and regional uptake of pharmaceutical treatments and will include an analysis of more advanced therapies, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) and administration of medications under the skin. “This analysis is timely as the more advanced therapies, such as subcutaneous apomorphine and DBS, are more widely available in New Zealand compared to at the time of our previous analyses.” The project will also examine the main causes of death within the Parkinson’s population (as people with Parkinson’s typically die from complications rather than the disease itself). “Combined, the outcomes of the study will help identify areas where efforts can be directed to improve care for those living with the disorder.” Toni also leads a project designed to identify the key drivers of Parkinson’s disease in New Zealand, by collecting detailed life-time histories and DNA from people across Aotearoa via the ‘New Zealand Parkinson’s Environment and Genes Study’. She is also involved in the New Zealand Parkinson’s Progression Programme, a longitudinal face-to-face cohort study based in Canterbury examining how the disorder progresses over time with a focus on non-motor features of the disorder. Funding from the Neurological Foundation and Parkinson’s NZ has also allowed Toni to explore how Parkinson's affects daily life and what research people with Parkinson’s want prioritised. Patients identified walking and balance issues, tremors and fatigue as the most impactful symptoms on daily life; and research into a cure as the number one research priority. Patients also hoped for more studies on the causes of Parkinson's and better, safer medications. Toni says it is essential that Parkinson’s research aligns with the wishes of people living with the disorder. Previous grants: 2002 – Miller Postgraduate Scholarship $84,210 2004 – Travel Grant $3,500 2010 – Project Grant $179,899 2012 – Project Grant $78,143 2016 – Travel Grant $4,200 2019 – Project Grant $47,80 Dr Toni Pitcher, University of Otago Christchurch Parkinson's disease: trends in treatment, mortality, & incidence. Project Grant $194,910 12 Headlines