Parkinson’s, the new face of the disease: younger affected, care that change and regional differences

When you think about Parkinson’s disease – of which the 11 April occurs the World Day – It is common to imagine a condition that only affects the elderly. But the numbers tell a more multifaceted reality. Second Iqvia italyin 2024 people with Parkinson’s diagnosis are over 309 thousand and 16 thousand They started a treatment for the first time Only in the last year.

Although the majority of patients are more than 70 years old (84%), The number of diagnosis at a younger age is growing. The disease can already start around 40with profound impacts on working and personal life of those who are still in the middle of professional activity.

There Parkinson Italy Confederation will present on the occasion of the day the documentary Dialogues with Mr. Parkinsonon (with the participation of Vincenzo Mollica) who throws the mask away, indeed the masks, on the pathology: a multifaceted neurodegenerative disease with a great variety of symptoms, over 40, which combine with each other in a way and with different intensity in each person. The result is an impact index on daily life in more than 1 in 2 cases: According to the investigation Parkinson’s: one, none and one hundred thousand conducted on over 500 patients and caregivers, the rhythms become slower (67%), the movements become tiring (59%), tiredness is often disabling (54%), one feels limited in free time and travel (53%) as well as at work (23%).

Parkinson’s It is not just a matter of drugs But a condition that influences every aspect of everyday life. The increase in diagnoses between young people (as we had told in this testimony) therefore requires a wider cure model and integrated.

In fact, neurologists are not enough: teamwork is essential with physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers. The real treatment begins with the recognition of the motor, emotional and relational difficulties that patients face. The real challenge is to build a system that accompanies the patient over timeoffering continuous and personalized support.

After all, explains the Confederation Parkinson Italy the great majority of patients (79%) did not know Parkinson’s before diagnosis and – in particular – In fact, such a multiplicity of symptoms was not expected (63%). Surprisingly, in fact, The tremor is not the most frequent symptom in more than one in two cases nor the most unbearable or embarrassing one. On the contrary many patients coexist, always or almost always, with the slowness in movements (72%) And muscle rigidity (62%)the Difficulty in writing (58%) and the Loss of balance (45%)but also with Non -motor symptoms Like sleep disorders (54%), problems under voice (50%), pain (47%), tiredness (46%) and repercussions on mood (44%).

At first glance, the treatments seem stable but reality is more dynamic. The L-Dopa remains central (40%) But there is a growth in the use of Oxidase monoamine inhibitors (Maois)from 24% to 29% of therapies.

On the contrary, the dopamine agonists they are falling (from 25% to 18%), used today more selectively. The Com in inhibitors represent about 4% of the treatments while the anticholinergic They are prescribed to 8% of patients, especially young people with tremor symptoms.

Therapeutic choices are adapting to the patient’s profile and the progression of the disease, with a more articulated and personalized range of options.

Parkinson’s treatment unfortunately it is not the same everywhere in our country. Regions like Liguria, Abruzzo and Marche record a greater concentration of patients under treatment while Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Trentino show lower numbers.

This imbalance reflects not only the distribution of age but also differences in regional health policies, in the availability of drugs and specialized centers. The continuous monitoring of the data is crucial to guarantee equity in access to care and improve the quality of assistance everywhere.