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Dietary Risk Factors for Parkinson's Disease
- Describe your topic.
- What dietary risk factors can be identified for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and its progression? Should medical nutrition therapy provided by registered dietitian nutritionists be provided as a standard in physician offices and care centers treating patients with PD? What differences in risk factors can be identified between different ethnic, racial and gender groups? What differences in risk factors can be identified between early onset PD and late onset PD? What are the effects of the malnutrition status typical of seniors on PD risk and progression? Is there research on best practices in service delivery and setting?
- Describe why this topic is important.
- Preliminary data suggest various lifestyle factors, including nutrition, may affect risk and progression of PD. As of 2010, data indicate the direct economic burden of PD is nearly $15 billion, while indirect costs such as reduced employment add another $6.3 billion. (Kowal SL, et al. The current and projected economic burden of Parkinson's disease in the United States. Mov Disord. 2013 Mar;28(3):311-8.) PD is also associated with substantial increases in comorbidities, hospitalization and nursing home placement. (Fredericks D, et al. Parkinson's disease and Parkinson's disease psychosis: a perspective on the challenges, treatments, and economic burden. Am J Manag Care. 2017 Apr;23(5 Suppl):S83-S92.) The medical and economic burdens on caregivers are substantial as well. (Martinez-Martin P, et al. The long-term direct and indirect economic burden among Parkinson's disease caregivers in the United States. Mov Disord. 2018 Dec 27.) With the 2010 prevalence expected to double by 2040 (Kowal SL, et al.), the importance of evidence to support affordable therapies that prevent, delay onset or reduce symptoms of PD cannot be overemphasized. The health care costs and associated adverse impacts are increased by the fact that post-diagnosis life expectancy is similar to adults without PD. Given the overall aging of the population, prudence dictates that the health care system be proactive, not reactive. Accordingly, health care providers should receive key information to secure the best possible outcomes for their patients as well as the health care system as a whole.
- Tell us why you are suggesting this topic.
- The interest of our members is noteworthy and cuts across various practice settings and specialties. In addition, like many Americans, some of our members have been personally impacted by PD. Some members have also written monographs and conducted research in this area. We are also broadly concerned about the provision of nutritional information for Parkinson's disease that is not evidence-based nor appropriate to the individual.
- Target Date.
- Describe what you are doing currently and what you are hoping will change because of a new evidence report.
- It is essential that patients receive evidence-based recommendations appropriate to their needs from qualified providers. Currently, without a standard protocol, provider qualifications and recommendations may vary widely. Such recommendations may be based on suppositions, false or incomplete information, or be absent when counseling is indicated and potentially beneficial to the patient. Interest from Academy members suggests their patients and their practice could benefit from an objective evidence review. While there may be evidence gaps, it is important that an authoritative agency synthesize and compile the evidence to-date into a single document. Our members could also benefit from any clarification of best practices in service delivery and setting.
- How will you or your group use the information from a new evidence report?
- An evidence report could be critical to issuance of a formal Academy practice guideline, which would be expected to optimize patient outcomes via PD prevention or delay of symptoms.
- How would you or your group plan to disseminate information from the report? Who would you plan to disseminate it to?
- The Academy would likely disseminate the report’s information via inclusion in a published article in our peer-reviewed publication the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Additionally, each of several select dietetic practice groups would likely post the report’s information on the member-access portion of their respective websites.
- Do you know of organizations that could use an evidence report to change clinical practice? Are you a part of, or have you been in contact with, any organizations that might implement the research findings of an evidence report?
- We have not been in contact with other stakeholders. But other organizations, such as the American Neurological Association, various patient and caregiver advocacy organizations, as well as industry groups such as the American Health Care Association, may also benefit from such an evidence report.
- Information About You: (optional)
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- Provide a description of your role or perspective.
- Director at a professional association on behalf of members
- If you are you making a suggestion on behalf of an organization, please state the name of the organization.
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Please tell us how you heard about the Effective Health Care Program.
