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Nebraska leads the world in the prevalence of Parkinson's disease per capita of any region!

"The world's highest prevalence of Parkinson's Disease of any region is in Nebraska, U.S.A. with 329.3 people per 100,000 population. It is possible that there is a very high prevalence of Parkinson's Disease in Nebraska due to the heavy use of insecticides in what is largely a farming area. The U.S.A. is the country as a whole with the world's highest prevalence of Parkinson's Disease. The U.S.A. has a high life expectancy that would enable a larger number of people with Parkinson's Disease, but it is also easier to be diagnosed with a medical disorder in the U.S.A.." Viartis.net

Another distinction is Nebraska along with South and North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa are the states with the highest amount of people with Parkinson's disease in America. These states in the "Heartland Hub" are also known for their agriculture productivity.

1.5 million people have Parkinson's disease. Approximately 40,000 will be diagnosed this year with 10-20% of those being Young Onset.

Parkinson's is the #1 movement disorder disease. There are more people suffering with Parkinson's disease than those with Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy and Lou Gehrig's disease combined. In neurological disorders, Parkinson's is second only to Alzheimer's disease.

Nebraska was the first state to implement a Parkinson's Registry in order to capture reportable data and identify people with the disease. Physicians and pharmacists are required to report any individual using drugs associated with the treatment of Parkinson's. A coordinator then verifies if the drug is used to manage Parkinson's or a different ailment. Currently, over 10,000 people have been confirmed to be diagnosed with the disease in Nebraska. There is an active bill in legislation to establish Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson disease registries that will help determine the incidence and prevalence of the diseases which will result in better treatment and research initiatives.

Now that you know more about Parkinson's, please join us to "ease the burden and find a cure" in our lifetime!

Symptoms of Parkinson's

Over 1.5 millions individuals are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in this country.Estimated over 40,000 additional individuals will be diagnosed this year.


Motor Symptoms

Nonmotor Symptoms

  • Tremor
  • Bradykinesia
  • Rigidity and freezing in place
  • Stooped, shuffling gait
  • Decreased arm swing when walking
  • Difficulty arising from a chair
  • Micrographia (small handwriting)
  • Lack of facial expression
  • Slowed activities of daily living
  • Postural instability
  • Difficulty turning in bed
  • Diminished sense of smell
  • Low voice volume
  • Painful foot cramps
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Depression
  • Constipation
  • Drooling
  • Increased sweating
  • Urinary frequency/urgency