Parkinson’s disease: Ohio among states with higher death rates

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ohio and its surrounding states are among U.S. states with the highest rates of deaths from Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological movement disorder.

Ohio had a rate of 10.1 Parkinson’s deaths per 100,000 total population in 2023, the latest year that information was available, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Parkinson’s disease is caused by the weakening, damage, and death of nerve cells in the brain. Symptoms include tremor, stiffness, slowed movement, and balance problems. Over time, these issues can interfere with walking, talking and performing daily tasks.

Parkinson’s disease affects more than 1.1 million Americans, and nearly 90,000 people are diagnosed with the disorder each year, according to the nonprofit Parkinson’s Foundation.

The disorder’s prevalence increases with age, affects men 1.5 times more than women, and is higher in the Rust Belt, Southern California and Florida, the foundation said.

Parkinson’s disease has no cure, but medicines can help control the symptoms. Physicians may recommend aerobic exercise, physical therapy that focuses on balancing and stretching, and speech therapy, according to the Mayo Clinic.

States with the highest rate of deaths from the disorder wereKansas (11.5), Utah (12.6) and Nebraska (12.9). States with the lowest rate of Parkinson’s deaths were New York (6.2), Hawaii (6.3) and Washington, D.C. (6.6).

Here are Ohio and its surrounding states, ranked by Parkinson’s disease deaths per 100,000 total population, lowest to highest:

• Pennsylvania: 9.5
• Michigan: 9.8
• Ohio: 10.1
• Kentucky: 10.2
• West Virginia: 10.5
• Indiana: 10.7

Symptoms, risk factors for Parkinson’s

Here are more facts about the disorder, from the Centers for Disease Control:

Seven symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

1. Tremor (resting tremor, “pill-rolling”)
2. Rigidity (muscle stiffness, “cogwheel” movement)
3. Bradykinesia (slowed movements, reduced facial expression)
4. Postural instability (balance problems, increased fall risk)
5. Speech changes (quiet, monotone, slurred, or hesitant speech)
6. Difficulty swallowing and chewing (risk of choking or drooling)
7. Sleep problems (restlessness, nightmares, daytime sleepiness)

Five risk factors for Parkinson’s disease

1. Age (most common in early–mid 60s; risk increases with age)
2. Biological sex (more common in men than women)
3. Heredity (having close relatives with PD increases risk)
4. Environmental exposure (pesticides, toxins, MPTP, manganese in welders)
5. Genetic mutations (such as those involving the alpha-synuclein gene)