Parkinson’s Rise: Is a ‘Man-Made Pandemic’ Fueling the Global Surge?

The number of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease is rising at an accelerating rate globally, prompting scientists to investigate factors beyond aging that may be driving the trend. While more people are living longer, increasing diagnoses, experts are exploring the potential role of environmental toxins, viruses, and air pollution in the development of the debilitating neurological disorder.

Recent modelling published in the BMJ suggests that 25.2 million people worldwide will be living with Parkinson’s by 2050 – a 112% increase compared to 2021. The study, conducted by researchers at Capital Medical University in Beijing, China, used data from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease Study to project prevalence in 195 countries and territories. East Asia is expected to see the highest number of cases, with China and Japan most affected, while Western Sub-Saharan Africa is predicted to experience the largest increase.

In the UK, the number of people living with Parkinson’s has risen from 120,000 in 2010 to 166,000 today, a 38% increase in 15 years. Parkinson’s UK launched an interactive dashboard in October 2025 to present key data on diagnoses and new cases, designed to aid healthcare professionals, policymakers, and researchers.

The disease, which primarily affects those over 60, is characterized by the death of brain cells that produce dopamine, leading to tremors, stiffness, and difficulties with movement. However, an increasing number of diagnoses are occurring in younger adults, leading some US experts to describe the rise in Parkinson’s as a “man-made pandemic.” These experts point to exposure to industrial chemicals and pesticides as potential drivers.

Studies in the US have shown that individuals with high exposure to agricultural pesticides, such as paraquat and rotenone, are 2.5 times more at risk of developing Parkinson’s. Laboratory research suggests these chemicals can damage mitochondria – the “battery packs” of brain cells – leading to the build-up of alpha-synuclein, a protein associated with the disease.

While rotenone and paraquat have been banned in the UK for two decades, Professor Miratul Muqit, director of the UK Dementia Research Institute Parkinson’s Research Centre, notes that the impact of newer pesticides is unclear. “Banning these pesticides hasn’t led to any decrease in Parkinson’s incidence – suggesting there could be others in apply which are causing the same issues,” he said. He added that it takes decades between exposure and the disease emerging.

Other chemicals under scrutiny include trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE), used in solvents and dry cleaning. A 2011 twin study linked regular exposure to TCE with a six-fold increase in Parkinson’s risk. Research in 2023 found higher rates of Parkinson’s among veterans housed at Camp Lejeune, a US Marine Corps base contaminated with TCE and PCE in the 1970s.

Emerging research also focuses on the potential link between air pollution and Parkinson’s. Analysis of US patient records by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that every increase in PM2.5 concentration – toxic particulates from traffic fumes and woodburners – resulted in a 17% higher risk of Parkinson’s disease dementia.

The role of viruses is also being investigated. Some evidence suggests a slightly increased risk of Parkinson’s following infections such as influenza and hepatitis C. Following the 1918 influenza pandemic, there was a surge in Parkinson’s-like symptoms. However, experts agree it is too early to determine whether Covid-19 will increase the risk.

Sarah Frow, 49, was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s in 2021 after experiencing a tremor in her left hand and increasing difficulty with movement. She wonders if growing up in the countryside and running through fields exposed her to agricultural pesticides. Frow, now an exercise lead at the Parkinson’s Centre for Integrated Therapy at the University of Kent, is running the London Marathon to raise money for Cure Parkinson’s.

While lifestyle factors like smoking (though not recommended) and coffee consumption may have a protective effect, exercise appears to be the most consistently beneficial. Meeting NHS guidelines of 150 minutes of weekly activity that raises the heart rate may reduce the risk by 20 to 30 percent.

Michael J. Fox, diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991, has been managing his condition with medication, including levodopa, which replaces dopamine in the brain. He established the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, but has recently expressed doubt he will live to see a cure.