Practices, Resources and Challenges in Parkinson's Disease Management in Asia: Movement Disorders in Asia Study Group Report

Mohamed Ibrahim N 1 , Phuenpathom W 2 , Jagota P 2 , Bhidayasiri R 2 , Pal PK 3 , Lin CH 4 Show all authors , Kukkle PL 5 , Hatano T 6 , Lim SY 7 , Myrzayev Z 8 , Shang H 9 , Ong JN 10 , Rosales RL 11 , Youn J 12 , Aldaajani Z 13 , Mittal SO 14 , Nawi AM 15 , Ugawa Y 16

Affiliations 

  • 1 Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 2 Chulalongkorn Centre of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease and Related Disorders, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
  • 3 Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, India
  • 4 Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
  • 5 Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Clinic, Bengaluru, India
  • 6 Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
  • 7 Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 8 International Institute of Postgraduate Education, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Almaty, Kazakhstan
  • 9 Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Rare Diseases Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
  • 10 Department of Neurosciences, Section of Neurology, Makati Medical Center, Makati, Philippines
  • 11 Neuroscience Institute and Research Center for Health Sciences, University of Santo Tomas and Hospital, Manila, Philippines
  • 12 Department of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
  • 13 Neuroscience Department, King Fahad Military Medical Complex, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
  • 14 Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Neurological Institute, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
  • 15 Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 16 Department of Human Neurophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Mov Disord Clin Pract, 2026 Feb;13(2):379-392.
PMID: 41299861 DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.70447

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) is increasing markedly in Asia, highlighting the urgent need to understand the current practices and challenges in delivering comprehensive PD care in this region.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the resources and facilities for comprehensive management of PD in Asia focusing on regions (South East Asia, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, East Asia, and Central Asia) and income levels (high-income countries-HIC, upper middle-income countries-UMIC, lower middle-income countries-LMIC).

METHOD: A survey-based questionnaire was deployed to the MDS affiliate societies or key neurologists in 32 countries in Asia.

RESULTS: Thirty countries/territories participated in the survey. HICs have better availability of and accessibility to most health care professionals. Central Asia has the lowest availability of and accessibility to health care professionals. PD nurses are least available (33.3%) and least easily accessible (6.7%). Levodopa and anticholinergics are the most available (100%), accessible (100%) and affordable (100%) antiparkinsonian medications. Device-aid therapies are more available and accessible in East Asian countries/territories, compared to other regions. Accessibility to allied health professionals is poor (43%). Genetic testing is available in 18 (60%) countries/territories, mostly in HIC (P = 0.031). Community engagement and public health awareness campaigns are available in 21 (70%) countries/territories. Brain bank is available in seven (24.1%) countries/territories, mostly in HIC. Telemedicine is utilized in 21 (70%) countries/territories.

CONCLUSION: This is the first survey-based study to highlight regional and income-based disparities on infrastructures required for comprehensive PD care in Asia. Regional collaborations between HIC and MIC may address some of these disparities.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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