Almost one in ten care insurance recipients in Luxembourg suffers from Parkinson's disease

For World Parkinson's Disease Day on 11 April, the Administration d'évaluation et de contrôle de l'assurance dépendance (AEC) has published rare and significant data that sheds light on the prevalence of the disease among people with long-term care needs.

As of 20 March 2025, there were 16,401 care insurance beneficiaries in the country, and in 1,505 of them (9.2%), Parkinson's disease was the main cause of dependence. These data emphasise the importance of the pathology as one of the leading causes of the deterioration of independence in elderly citizens.

The age group of this category of beneficiaries speaks for itself: the average age is 81, with more than 47% in the age range of 80 to 89. Almost one in ten is over 90 years old. These are statistics that hide not only numbers, but also stories of a long life suddenly limited by a neurological disorder that gradually erodes a person's ability to move and communicate.

It is interesting to note that the majority of Parkinson's patients live at home despite high levels of dependency. This emphasises the role of families, home care and social support as key factors in quality of life.

Parkinson's disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases in the world, second only to Alzheimer's disease. It is characterised by slow progression, motor and cognitive symptoms and leads to loss of independence, especially in the late stages.

With Luxembourg's ageing population, the problem becomes not only medical but also social. Highlighting specific statistics within the care insurance system is an important step towards realising the magnitude of the challenge and the need for a coordinated public policy in the fields of gerontology, neurology and social protection.