The Lancet Series: Parkinson’s disease (18 January 2024)

Summary

The prevalence of Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, is increasing worldwide. Characterised clinically by progressive asymmetric slowness of movement, rigidity, tremor, gait disturbance, and a wide range of non-motor symptoms, the aetiology of Parkinson’s disease is multifactorial, involving both genetic and environmental risk factors. Despite the growing public health burden, current treatment strategies are focused solely on symptom management—and disease-modifying treatments are urgently needed to help prevent development of the most disabling refractory symptoms, such as gait and balance difficulties, cognitive impairment and dementia, and speech and swallowing problems.

In this three-paper Series, the authors address the current state of knowledge on the epidemiology of Parkinson’s disease, recent advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease, as well as the latest evidence supporting the optimal medical, surgical, and physical treatment of Parkinson’s disease.