Neurologists’ Perspectives on Parkinson’s Disease: Perceived Prevalence, Age at Onset, and Diagnostic Patterns

Abstract

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with a growing global burden and substantial impact on healthcare systems. Early diagnosis and effective management are essential to improve patient outcomes. Neurologists' perspectives provide valuable insights into disease prevalence, diagnostic trends, and healthcare challenges, particularly in settings where epidemiological data are limited.

Objective: To explore neurologists' perceptions regarding the prevalence of Parkinson's disease, age at onset, diagnostic patterns, and management challenges.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 303 neurologists practicing in different countries. The questionnaire collected data on demographic characteristics, perceived prevalence of PD, age at diagnosis, trends in early-onset PD, diagnostic practices, and management challenges. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and chi-square (χ²) tests were used to assess associations between demographic variables and neurologists' perceptions. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Most respondents perceived Parkinson's disease as common (47.9%) or very common (24.1%), while 65.3% reported an increase in PD cases over time. The most frequently reported age at diagnosis was 60–75 years (57.8%), although 31.0% of neurologists observed an increase in early-onset Parkinson's disease (<50 years). Most patients were diagnosed at the moderate stage of disease (53.1%). Patient delay (42.2%) and limited awareness (28.7%) were identified as the primary causes of delayed diagnosis. Approximately 66.3% of respondents reported improvements in diagnostic accuracy in recent years. Significant associations were found between years of clinical experience and perceived prevalence of PD (χ²(6, N = 303) = 12.67, p = 0.048), between practice setting and observed increases in early-onset PD (χ²(3, N = 303) = 9.85, p = 0.020), and between stage at diagnosis and perceived improvement in diagnostic accuracy (χ²(2, N = 303) = 10.32, p = 0.006).

Conclusion: Neurologists perceive an increasing burden of Parkinson's disease, including a growing recognition of early-onset cases. Diagnostic delays and limited access to care remain major challenges. These findings highlight the need for improved awareness, earlier diagnostic strategies, strengthened healthcare resources, and enhanced surveillance systems to optimize Parkinson's disease management.