A new study sheds light on the gaps in care that people with Parkinson’s disease are experiencing in the United States. One of the most surprising statistics released is that only 9% of people with the disease get care from a movement disorder specialist (MDS), a neurologist who can spot Parkinson’s and customize treatments for people with the disease.
The rest of people get care elsewhere. For example, 50% of people with Parkinson’s disease got care from a general neurologist, and 29% received care from a primary care doctor in 2019.
According to the report, 56.3% of people with Parkinson’s are male and 45.6% are female. Of all people with the disease, 77.9% are over the age of 70 and 14.7% are people of color.
Overall, About 40% of people with Parkinson’s disease didn’t see a neurologist at all during 2019, the report found.
“These findings underscore the need for better training of general neurologists and other care providers treating people with PD,” James Beck, PhD, senior author of the study and chief scientific officer for the Parkinson’s Foundation, said in a statement.
There are about 1 million people in the U.S. living with Parkinson’s disease. That number is expected to reach 1.2 million by 2030, according to The Parkinson’s Foundation.
The study was published in the journal npj Parkinson’s Disease. It draws on Medicare data from 2019 that represented 90% of people living with Parkinson’s in the U.S.
The report also highlighted that many people with Parkinson’s aren’t getting the care they need — or the care that’s available. Disparities affect women, people of color (those who identify as Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American) and people who live in rural areas.
Even though 53% of people with Parkinson’s have depression, only 2% are getting care from a mental health care provider. Even supplemental solutions like speech and physical therapy aren’t being totally utilized. Only 20% of people with Parkinson’s see a physical therapist, the report showed.
