Current and projected future economic burden of Parkinson's disease in the U.S.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the world's fastest growing neurological disorders, yet its economic burden in the United States has been incompletely characterized. Using multiple data sources—including public and private administrative claims, Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, and a primary PD Impact Survey (n = 4,548)—we estimated the U.S. prevalence of diagnosed PD to be approximately one million individuals in 2017 and the total economic burden to be $51.9 billion. This total comprises $25.4 billion in direct medical costs and $26.5 billion in indirect and non-medical costs (including $14.2 billion in productivity losses for persons with PD and caregivers, $7.5 billion in non-medical costs, and $4.8 billion in disability income). Medicare bears the largest share of excess medical costs. Projected PD prevalence exceeds 1.6 million with total economic burden surpassing $79 billion by 2037. Interventions reducing incidence, delaying progression, and alleviating symptom burden may mitigate future economic burdens.