New Study Shows the Economic Burden of Parkinson’s Disease Double Previous Estimates
Total cost of Parkinson’s disease to individuals, families and the U.S. government nearly $52 billion each year
NEW YORK (June 13, 2019) — A new study, The Economic Burden of Parkinson’s Disease, published by the Michael J. Fox Foundation with support from the Parkinson’s Foundation and other community organizations and industry partners, reveals that the economic burden of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is nearly $52 billion every year.
The study divides the cost nearly evenly between those attributable to direct medical costs (such as hospitalizations and medication) versus non-medical costs (such as missed work, lost wages, forced early retirement and family caregiver time). The federal government alone accounts for nearly $25 billion in this spending, with $2 billion supported through Social Security and the remaining $23 billion in Medicare costs.
“These results provide deep insight into the indirect costs — those costs the people living with Parkinson's and their families must take on alone,” added Parkinson’s Foundation Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer James Beck, PhD. “Knowing this information will allow us to better serve people with Parkinson’s and their families in the areas they are most concerned about and where we can have the most impact."
This study is the most comprehensive assessment illustrating the annual economic toll on people with Parkinson’s, their families and the United States government. It was conducted by leveraging publicly available data from Medicare, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Census Bureau and other survey tools, including a survey made available on Parkinson.org and other Parkinson’s Foundation online channels. The results of this study will be used to advocate for more federal funding and programs that can make life better for people with Parkinson’s disease.
“This data will help facilitate a new level of outcome-driven conversations with Members of Congress who oversee federal programs that affect the lives of the one million people with Parkinson’s in the United States,” said Todd Sherer, PhD, MJFF CEO. “Investing more in research toward better treatments and a cure will ultimately relieve the burden on already-strained programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.”
The study, The Economic Burden of Parkinson’s Disease, was sponsored by The Michael J. Fox Foundation, with support from the Parkinson’s Foundation, several industry groups (ACADIA, Adamas, AbbVie, Acorda and Biogen), the American Parkinson Disease Association and The Parkinson Alliance.
###
About the Parkinson’s Foundation
The Parkinson’s Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson’s disease by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. In everything we do, we build on the energy, experience and passion of our global Parkinson’s community. Since 1957, the Parkinson’s Foundation has invested more than $400 million in Parkinson’s research and clinical care. Connect with us on Parkinson.org, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or call (800) 4PD-INFO (473-4636).
About Parkinson’s Disease
Affecting an estimated one million Americans and 10 million worldwide, Parkinson’s disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s and is the 14th-leading cause of death in the U.S. It is associated with a progressive loss of motor control (e.g., shaking or tremor at rest and lack of facial expression), as well as non-motor symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety). There is no cure for Parkinson’s and 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the U.S. alone.