Nisha Pandey

Parkinson’s Is Rising Across US, But Not Equally: Why Are Some States Seeing More Cases Than Others?

Parkinson’s disease has becoming increasingly common in the US, but new data show that the burden is heavier in some states than others. 

An analysis of 2025 medical records of 46 million adults across 49 states found an evident geographic divide. 

After adjusting for factors like age, sex, race, ethnicity and other health conditions, <span>Nebraska</span> recorded the highest rate at 561 Parkinson’s diagnoses per 100,000 people, followed by <span>Kansas</span> at 517 and <span>Utah</span> at 493. On the other hand, Montana recorded 308 diagnoses per 100,000. 

Even though the findings do not prove that living in a particular state causes Parkinson’s, researchers say the pattern raises important questions about environmental factors, population differences and access to healthcare. 

<h2>Why are Nebraska and Kansas seeing more cases? </h2>

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/dementia-is-more-than-forgotten-birthdays-lost-keys-doctors-explain-early-signs-before-memory-loss-article-155608674" data-type="tilCustomLink">Dementia Is More Than Forgotten Birthdays, Lost Keys: Doctors Explain Early Signs Before Memory Loss</a>

More than 90% of Nebraska is farmed or ranched, while Kansas also has extensive agricultural activity. That signals that pesticides could be a possible contributor to <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/parkinsons-disease-could-affect-25-million-people-worldwide-in-the-next-25-years-article-151246454" data-type="tilCustomLink">Parkinson’s risk</a>. 

Dr Ayesha Bryant, a functional medicine physician, said that exposure to chemicals through farming could help explain the high rates in Nebraska, Kansas and possibly Arkansas. “The literature repeatedly shows associations between pesticide exposure and Parkinson's disease in epidemiological studies,” she told The Daily Mail. 

Parkinson’s develops when dopamine-producing neurons progressively become damaged and die. Since dopamine plays a key role in movement, its loss can lead to tremors, stiffness, and slow movement. 

Other pesticides, including paraquat and glyphosate, have also been investigated for possible links to <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/world-parkinsons-day-these-5-supplements-can-help-in-managing-this-neurological-condition-article-151394270" data-type="tilCustomLink">Parkinson’s</a>, although the evidence is not conclusive for all of them. 

<h2>Air Pollution May Be Another Factor </h2>

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/trump-strikes-drug-pricing-deals-with-9-more-drug-makers-will-americans-finally-pay-less-for-medicines-article-156022672" data-type="tilCustomLink">Trump Strikes Drug Pricing Deals With 9 More Drug makers: Will Americans Finally Pay Less For Medicines?</a>

Only around 20% of Utah is farmed or ranched, and pesticide use is also low. Yet it recorded the third-highest diagnosis rate. 

Dr Rebecca Gilbert, neurologist and chief mission officer at the <span>American Parkinson Disease Association</span>, said air pollution is another environmental factor scientists are increasingly investigating. “Scientists are increasingly looking at air pollution as a possible risk factor for Parkinson's and other brain diseases, including <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/new-research-suggests-that-parkinsons-disease-cases-may-increase-by-112-article-151277687" data-type="tilCustomLink">dementia</a>,” she said. 

Utah's industrial and mining activity could contribute to exposure to fine particulate matter, or PM2.5. Research has increasingly explored whether long-term exposure to air pollution could affect brain health. 

Talking about population as a factor, Dr Johnson Moon, neurologist and medical director for neurophysiology at Providence St Jude Medical Center, said that Utah's predominantly white population. 

“Census data shows around 87 percent of residents are white – and Parkinson's is diagnosed more often in white populations than in black or Asian groups,” he said. 

He added, “Genetic differences may partly explain this, although disparities in access to care and delayed or missed diagnoses among minority groups could also affect the figures.” 

The US sees nearly 90,000 new <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/can-music-bring-back-memory-in-dementia-patients-expert-says-only-if-its-in-their-mother-tongue-article-151128886" data-type="tilCustomLink">Parkinson’s diagnoses</a> each year, and more than 1.1 million Americans are estimated to be living with the disease. That number is projected to reach 1.2 million by 2030. 

Age remains the biggest known risk factor, but genetics, environmental exposures and other factors may interact over decades. But as of now, scientists cannot point towards one definite cause of Parkinson's with certainty.

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Parkinson’s disease has becoming increasingly common in the US, but new data show that the burden is heavier in some states than others. An analysis of 2025 medical records of 46 million adults across 49 states found an evident geographic divide. After adjusting for factors like age, sex, race, ethnicity and other health conditions, Nebraska recorded the highest rate at 561 Parkinson’s diagnoses per 100,000 people, followed by Kansas at 517 and Utah at 493. On the other hand, Montana recorded 308 diagnoses per 100,000. Even though the findings do not prove that living in a particular state causes Parkinson’s, researchers say the pattern raises important questions about environmental factors, population differences and access to healthcare. Why are Nebraska and Kansas seeing more cases? Also read: Dementia Is More Than Forgotten Birthdays, Lost Keys: Doctors Explain Early Signs Before Memory LossMore than 90% of Nebraska is farmed or ranched, while Kansas also has extensive agricultural activity. That signals that pesticides could be a possible contributor to Parkinson’s risk. Dr Ayesha Bryant, a functional medicine physician, said that exposure to chemicals through farming could help explain the high rates in Nebraska, Kansas and possibly Arkansas. “The literature repeatedly shows associations between pesticide exposure and Parkinson's disease in epidemiological studies,” she told The Daily Mail. Parkinson’s develops when dopamine-producing neurons progressively become damaged and die. Since dopamine plays a key role in movement, its loss can lead to tremors, stiffness, and slow movement. Other pesticides, including paraquat and glyphosate, have also been investigated for possible links to Parkinson’s, although the evidence is not conclusive for all of them. Air Pollution May Be Another Factor Also read: Trump Strikes Drug Pricing Deals With 9 More Drug makers: Will Americans Finally Pay Less For Medicines?Only around 20% of Utah is farmed or ranched, and pesticide use is also low. Yet it recorded the third-highest diagnosis rate. Dr Rebecca Gilbert, neurologist and chief mission officer at the American Parkinson Disease Association, said air pollution is another environmental factor scientists are increasingly investigating. “Scientists are increasingly looking at air pollution as a possible risk factor for Parkinson's and other brain diseases, including dementia,” she said. Utah's industrial and mining activity could contribute to exposure to fine particulate matter, or PM2.5. Research has increasingly explored whether long-term exposure to air pollution could affect brain health. Talking about population as a factor, Dr Johnson Moon, neurologist and medical director for neurophysiology at Providence St Jude Medical Center, said that Utah's predominantly white population. “Census data shows around 87 percent of residents are white – and Parkinson's is diagnosed more often in white populations than in black or Asian groups,” he said. He added, “Genetic differences may partly explain this, although disparities in access to care and delayed or missed diagnoses among minority groups could also affect the figures.” The US sees nearly 90,000 new Parkinson’s diagnoses each year, and more than 1.1 million Americans are estimated to be living with the disease. That number is projected to reach 1.2 million by 2030. Age remains the biggest known risk factor, but genetics, environmental exposures and other factors may interact over decades. But as of now, scientists cannot point towards one definite cause of Parkinson's with certainty.

parkinson’s is rising across us, but not equally: why are some states seeing more cases than others?

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