This blog post was prepared by RNO Website Committee Chair Joan Grant Keltner.
Almost 90,000 people in the U. S are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease annually and 1.2 million individuals are estimated to have this chronic illness by 2030 (Willis et al., 2022). The leading risk factor is age or those who are 65 years and older. Males also have a higher prevalence. Genetic and environmental factors also play a significant role. A higher incidence is found in topographical areas of the “Rust Belt” located in the midwestern and northeastern areas of the U.S., specifically Southern California, Southeastern Texas, Central Pennsylvania, and Florida (Parkinson’s Foundation, 2022).
Rural areas also are impacted because of the increased risk to farmers from pesticides (Shrestha et al., 2020). Use of amphetamine or methamphetamine, heavy metals, air pollution, traumatic brain injury, and trichloroethylene (Ascherio & Schwarzschild, 2016; De Miranda et al., 2022) found in ground water (The MNT Editorial Team. 2021) are other risk factors.
So, how can rural health professionals assist rural individuals and their families who are impacted by Parkinson’s disease? Support groups in rural areas are beneficial to both patients with Parkinson’ s disease and their family members. A key factor is communication, providing interactions to enhance education in sharing and learning valuable information about the disease and its management from both expert guest speakers as well as individuals with Parkinson’s disease who have similar symptoms. Another significant component of communication is emotional support that occurs from these interactions to decrease isolation and enhance the development of social activities among group members (Bush et al., 2018).
Strategies for encouraging both online and face-to-face support groups are to post local flyers and make public announcements about meeting times and Parkinson’s topics in common places and through local avenues (radio, grocery stores, beauty shops), especially when guest speakers ae talking management strategies for common issues. Using public places with handicapped access, such as libraries, schools, etc. also is valuable in enhancing these support groups. Another option is to start a statewide website and newsletter to provide information about Parkinson’s disease and engage rural stakeholders (Bush et al., 2018).
The Parkinson’s Foundation (2024) also provides resources and support for health providers, as well as for individuals with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners, including an online global network for identifying treatment centers, as well as online communication groups, educational materials, and monthly podcasts. This organization currently offers grants to rural communities that focus on education and exercise programs, address mental health issues, and provide support for care partners. Together, we can enhance the lives of those with Parkinson’s and their family members.
References
Ascherio, A., Schwarzschild, M. A. (2016). The epidemiology of Parkinson’s disease: Risk factors and prevention. Lancet Neurology, 15(12), 1257-1272. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(16)30230-7 25
Bush, E. J., Singh, R. L., Hidecker, M. J. C., & Carrico, C. P. (2018). Parkinson’s disease support groups in rural America: Barriers, resources, and opportunities. The Qualitative Report, 23(6), 1381-1400. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol23/iss6/8
De Miranda, B. R., Goldman, S M., Miller, G. W., Greenamyre, J. T., & Dorsey, E. R. (2022). Preventing Parkinson’s disease: An environmental agenda. Journal of Parkinsons Disease, 12(1), 45-68. https://doi.org/10.3233/JPD-212922
Parkinson’s Foundation. (2022). Prevalence and incidence. https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/statistics/prevalence-incidence
Parkinson’s Foundation. (2024). Better lives. Together. https://www.parkinson.org/
Shrestha S., Parks C. G., Umbach D. M., Richards-Barber, M., Hofmann, J. N., Chen, H., Blair, A., Beane Freeman, L. E., & Sandler, D. P. (2020). Pesticide use and incident Parkinson’s disease in a cohort of farmers and their spouses. Environmental Research,191, 110186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110186
The MNT Editorial Team. (2021). What are the risk factors for Parkinson’s disease? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323440
Willis, A. W., Roberts, E., Beck, J. C., Fiske, B., Ross, W., Savica, R., Van Den Eeden, S. K., Tanner, C. M., Marras, C., & Parkinson’s Foundation P4 Group (2022). Incidence of Parkinson disease in North America. NPJ Parkinson's Disease, 8(1), 170. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-022-00410-y
