Researchers of a recent study (N=565; Parkinson’s disease [PD] n=458, atypical parkinsonisms n=107; mean age 69; 65% men) found that community disadvantage—measured by the Material Community Deprivation Index—was associated with worse motor symptom severity and disability. In the combined cohort, greater disadvantage correlated with higher Movement Disorders Society Unified PD Rating Scale part III (MDS-UPDRS III) scores after adjustment (β=1.58, P=.01) and increased odds of a higher Hoehn and Yahr (HY) stage (OR=1.27, P=.04). In PD-only analyses, associations were similar or stronger (MDS-UPDRS III β=1.72, P=.01; HY OR=1.32, P=.04), whereas links were not significant in the atypical parkinsonism subgroup. Cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) did not track with community disadvantage, and race and levodopa equivalent daily dose were not significant in univariable models.
Most participants lived in urban areas (88%), were HY stage 2 (75%), and were assessed ON medication (80%). Clinically, the findings point to modifiable social and environmental factors that may worsen motor outcomes, supporting targeted interventions (eg, improving access to subspecialty care, addressing neighborhood-level risks) for people with PD and parkinsonisms. The authors call for research that includes more diverse populations and probes causal pathways—such as specific environmental exposures and potential epigenetic effects—to inform equitable, community-tailored care.
Reference: Ciccone I. Community Disadvantage Linked to Increased Motor Symptom Severity in Parkinson Disease. Neurology Live. Published July 22, 2025. Accessed October 24, 2025. https://www.neurologylive.com/view/community-disadvantage-linked-increased-motor-symptom-severity-pd
Link: https://www.neurologylive.com/view/community-disadvantage-linked-increased-motor-symptom-severity-pd
