Changing epidemiology of Parkinson's disease: Predicted effects of levodopa treatment

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Abstract
Recent studies suggest that levodopa treatment reduces the excess mortality due to Parkinson''s disease, 3 times that expected in the general population. This affects the equilibrium state of the epidemiology of Parkinson''s disease. The predicted increase in prevalence of Parkinson''s disease was calculated according to 2 mortality patterns, 1 the same as expected in the general population and the other 1.5 times that expected; the proportional increase in prevalence is 1.8 and 1.4, respectively. The predicted increase in the duration of the disease is 6.3 or 3.2 yr. As a consequence, there will be an increase of patients with long-term levodopa treatment difficulties and with Parkinson''s disease symptoms not treatable with levodopa, e.g., dementia. This seriously warrants the research of new approaches in the treatment of Parkinson''s disease.