Burden of Parkinson’s disease from 1990 to 2021 at the global, regional, and national level, with forecasts to 2035

Parkinson’s disease (PD) poses a growing global health challenge. Our study systematically assessed the global, regional, and national burden of PD from 1990 to 2021 and projected trends to 2035. This study utilized data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 to systematically analyze the global, burden of PD from 1990 to 2021 and project trends up to 2035. By integrating prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) metrics, alongside Socio-Demographic Index (SDI), we employed the Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model and decomposition analysis to assess drivers of PD burden. From 1990 to 2021, the prevalence of PD increased by 273.75%, mortality increased by 162.17%. In terms of regions, the low-middle SDI regions had the highest average annual percentage changes (EAPC) in prevalence, mortality, which were 4.57%, 2.51%, respectively. Projections from 2022 to 2035 suggest that the prevalence will continue to rise, while mortality is expected to decline. The global burden of PD exhibits a persistent upward trajectory. This is particularly noticeable among middle-aged and elderly men, as well as in regions with the low-middle SDI. Targeted measures to address regional healthcare gaps and to improve global aging are crucial for mitigating the burden of PD. This study examines how the global burden of Parkinson’s disease (PD) has changed from 1990 to 2021 using data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study. It looks at patterns in new cases, total cases, deaths, and disability across different countries and levels of socioeconomic development. The study also explores the main factors contributing to these changes and projects future trends through 2035. The results show that the number of people living with Parkinson’s disease has increased substantially worldwide over the past three decades. Population aging was the main factor driving this increase, although population growth and other epidemiological changes also contributed. The burden of PD varied across regions and socioeconomic levels. In many countries, especially those undergoing rapid demographic transition, the burden is expected to continue rising in the coming years, particularly among older adults. These findings suggest that Parkinson’s disease will remain an important global public health challenge. As populations age, healthcare systems may face increasing demand for specialized neurological care and long-term support. Understanding the main drivers of increasing PD burden can help policymakers plan targeted strategies to improve prevention, diagnosis, and care, especially in rapidly aging societies.