
THURSDAY, Dec. 15, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Parkinson's disease is a much bigger problem than previously thought, particularly for aging Americans, a new study finds.There are about 50% more new cases of the degenerative disorder diagnosed each year in North America than currently estimated, researchers concluded after an extensive data review."We used to say 60,000 people a year were getting diagnosed, but really it's 90,000 people a year are getting diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease," said co-researcher James Beck, chief scientific officer at the Parkinson's Foundation.The results highlight that increasing age is a primary risk factor for Parkinson's, Beck said. With an aging population, more cases of Parkinson's are being diagnosed.The new estimates align with a 2018 study which...