Parkinsonism Worse for Minorities, Poor, and Not Well-Educated
African-American patients and those with lower
income and education levels suffer more severely and have greater
disability from parkinsonism, according to a study in the online
edition of Archives of Neurology.
Parkinsonism
is commonly found among older Americans. The condition, which is
characterized by symptoms of slow movements, tremors and rigidity, is a
neurological disorder similar to Parkinson’s disease. In fact, “the
most common cause of parkinsonism is Parkinson’s disease, a
debilitating, chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder with an
incidence rate that increases with age,” said study authors.
For
the study, researchers at the University of Maryland in Baltimore
surveyed 1,159 patients with parkinsonism who were evaluated by
movement disorder specialists between 2003 and 2008. The questionnaires
assessed study participants’ demographics, disease severity, disability
level and medication use history.
Researchers found African
Americans had more severe parkinsonism and greater disability compared
with white patients. In addition, scientists also linked lower income
and education to greater disease severity and disability.
What’s
more, researchers also noted treatment disparities between blacks and
whites. Data showed that 61.9 percent of African Americans were
prescribed fewer medications to treat parkinsonism during their first
doctor visit compared with 77.6 percent of whites. Furthermore, 20.6
percent of African Americans were prescribed newer medications to treat
the condition compared with 41.1 percent of white patients. And docs
prescribed antipsychotic meds for 12.7 percent of black patients
compared with 6.1 percent of whites.
Because parkinsonism
reduces quality of life, causes disability and leads to premature
death, researchers suggested doctors needed to better understand the
disease. That way, docs could find remedies for all patients with the
disease, regardless of their socioeconomic background and financial
status.
Click here to read how ibuprofen may reduce Parkinson’s disease development.
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