Fast track — ArticlesPrevalence of movement disorders in men and women aged 50–89 years (Bruneck Study cohort): a population-based study
Introduction
Movement disorders are among the major causes of chronic neurological disability in elderly people. Prevalence of common movement disorders, such as essential tremor, Parkinson's disease, dystonia, or restless legs syndrome, has been assessed in several population-based surveys.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Overall, these studies showed that movement disorders are common and some, such as dystonia, are more prevalent than previously assumed.10 Nevertheless, the overall disease burden due to movement disorders in the general community, as defined by the combined prevalence and severity of disease, is unknown. The aim of this study, which was undertaken as part of the population-based Bruneck Study,9, 10, 11, 12 was to assess the prevalence of all common categories of movement disorders in the same population, taking into account data for sex differences and age trends.
Section snippets
Participants
Bruneck is a semi-urban area located in the alpine region of northern Italy (south Tyrol). The population in the survey area is exclusively white and of heterogeneous geographic origin with sizeable segments of Austro-German or Italian background. Population mobility within the survey area is 0·2% per year. The study population was recruited as an age-stratified and sex-stratified random sample of all inhabitants of Bruneck aged 40–79 years.9, 10, 11, 12 Age groups were formed by decades, and
Results
Prevalences in the general community of all movement disorders combined were high (table 1). Frequencies were similar in men and women and sharply increased with age from 19% in the 50–59-years age-group to 51% in the 80–89-years age-group (figure). Tables 2 and 3 summarise age-specific and disease-specific disease prevalences. Disease severity, according to standard rating scales, was classified as moderate-to-severe in 90 individuals (42% of all movement disorders and 56% of all movement
Discussion
Over the past decade evidence has accumulated to suggest that movement disorders rank among the most common neurological diseases in elderly people and contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in this age-group.1, 8, 28 The current study identified a high overall prevalence of movement disorders in the general community, age 50–89 years. Frequencies were similar between both sexes and sharply increased with age. According to standardised rating scales, more than 40% of patients had
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