From blood letting to brain stimulation: 200 years of Parkinson’s disease treatment

Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after dementia, affecting more than ten million people worldwide. In Australia alone, more than 70,000 people have the disease – that’s one in every 340 Australians.

While Parkinson’s primarily affects adults over the age of 55, 20% of those diagnosed with the condition are under 50, and 10% of cases occur in those under 40.

The estimated costs of Parkinson’s disease to the Australian economy add up to almost A$1.1 billion, a number that has almost doubled since 2005. Given the prevalence of the disease is estimated to double by 2030, the search for a cure is critical.

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