The elephant in the room: critical reflections on mortality rates among individuals with Parkinson's disease.
Publication year
2023Source
NPJ Parkinson's Disease, 9, 1, (2023), pp. 145, article 145ISSN
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor
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Organization
Neurology
Journal title
NPJ Parkinson's Disease
Volume
vol. 9
Issue
iss. 1
Page start
p. 145
Subject
Radboudumc 3: Disorders of movement DCMN: Donders Center for Medical Neuroscience; Radboud University Medical CenterAbstract
In our efforts to create more public awareness about Parkinson’s disease, we often emphasize the tremendous impact of this common disease on an individual’s life. However, in public awareness campaigns, we largely avoid discussions on the survival of people with Parkinson’s disease (PwP). Many clinicians even state that the survival with Parkinson’s disease is close to normal. In this article, we contemplate on findings regarding the mortality of Parkinson’s disease in order to spark a discussion about what information we should provide to affected individuals and their near ones about the life expectancy of PwP. Our narrative review of the evidence indicates that although the survival of PwP has improved over time, PwP still live fewer years than their age- and sex-matched population comparators, albeit at older ages this difference can be small. We feel that it is important to emphasize this information towards PwP, the general public, policymakers and funding bodies. We hope that this will help to create a better understanding of the enormous impact that this disorder can have on affected individuals, even beyond the disability that is experienced during life.
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- Academic publications [246515]
- Electronic publications [134128]
- Faculty of Medical Sciences [93308]
- Open Access publications [107658]
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