A Short Commentary on the Racial Disparities in Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

The etiology of Parkinson Disease (PD) remains elusive, but may include environmental and genetic factors leading to neuronal degeneration [1]. The difference in incidence of PD among different racial groups may provide additional insight into the etiology. In 2004, McInerney-Leo et al. reviewed twenty studies analyzing the prevalence and incidence of PD among Caucasians, African-Americans in the United States and African populations [2]. The differences in prevalence of Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonism could not be demonstrated because of poor designs and numerous biases, such as referral bias and differences in access to healthcare. Therefore, they were unable to determine the effect of race in PD. Yet, studies continue to suggest that there is a significantly higher prevalence of PD among Caucasians compared to other racial groups [3]