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THE WORLD'S HIGHEST PREVALENCE OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE Neuroepidemiology [2009] 32 (4) : 263-269 (Yamawaki M, Kusumi M, Kowa H, Nakashima K.) Complete abstract Japan might now be the country with the world's highest prevalence of Parkinson's Disease. The U.S.A. was the country with the highest known prevalence rates for Parkinson's Disease. However, such high prevalence rates were only found in Nebraska, U.S.A., where the heavy pesticide use in what is a largely agricultural area may have increased prevalence rates beyond the norm. Other isolated areas have very high prevalence rates, such as in the vicinity of ferromanganese plants in Brescia, Italy, and amongst the Parsi in Bombay, whose rituals cause them to inhale fumes of the potentially toxic Aspand seeds. For more information go to Prevalence of Parkinson's Disease. The prevalence of Parkinson's Disease in Japan has not previously been high. However, this study shows that the prevalence in Japan has increased continuously up to a recent high of 192 per 100,000 people. Part of the increase would be due to the greater life expectancy. A second factor might actually be the time that has elapsed since the Second World War. There was a high death rate during the Second World War of men who would have subsequently been at the age most likely to have Parkinson's Disease. This is probably why Japan is the only country in the world that had far more women than men with Parkinson's Disease. Over time this factor is reducing in significance because most men of the age most likely to have Parkinson's Disease are now too young to have died during the Second World War. 10th February 2009 - New research Rayilyn Brown Director AZNPF Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn