New report shows Parkinson’s costs surpass $82 billion in US in 2024
Study highlights growing financial burden on patients, caregivers
Written by |
- Parkinson’s disease costs in the U.S. exceeded $82 billion in 2024, surpassing earlier projections.
- Costs include medical care as well as substantial lost productivity from patients and caregivers.Â
- Findings highlight calls for increased federal funding to support Parkinson’s research and treatment development.
In the U.S., the total cost of Parkinson’s disease — including direct medical costs and lost productivity from patients and caregivers — was more than $82 billion in 2024, according to a new report from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF).
The findings build on an earlier study from MJFF that estimated the costs of Parkinson’s disease. That study estimated the total cost was about $52 billion in 2017 and projected that it would reach about $79 billion by 2037. The new report shows costs have already surpassed that level, more than a decade ahead of schedule.
Report shows Parkinson’s costs surpass earlier projections
Debi Brooks, CEO and co-founder of the MJFF, said in a press release that this report “underscores the urgency and opportunity in front of us.”
“Behind these data are millions of people — patients, families, and care partners — navigating the daily realities of Parkinson’s, including a growing financial strain that touches every part of their lives,” Brooks said. “Our north star is clear: accelerate new treatments and a cure. Investing in research now is a strategic, forward-looking commitment that can ease pressure on families and lower long-term costs for federal programs and health care systems. Breakthroughs in Parkinson’s will benefit us all.”
The new report estimates that total medical costs for Parkinson’s in 2024 were about $23.8 billion. That includes hospital stays and other doctors’ visits, as well as the cost of medication and treatment. The report notes that more than 90% of these costs are covered by the federal government through Medicare and Medicaid. Taking into account other costs such as Social Security and disability, Parkinson’s cost the American taxpayer more than $25 billion in 2024.
But the report shows that these direct medical costs are only a fraction of the disease’s economic impact. The bulk of the estimated costs — $58.4 billion — reflect indirect and non-medical costs, including lost income from patients who can no longer work, disability, and other financial impacts on patients and families.
Caregivers and lost productivity drive much of total cost
And it’s not just patients driving these indirect costs — according to the report, nearly 40% of Parkinson’s patients rely on help from an unpaid caregiver, usually a family member. Caregivers often have to work less or stop working entirely, and this loss in productivity added up to more than $8 billion in 2024.
While the report focuses mainly on the impact of the disease at the level of the overall economy, it emphasizes that these costs are borne by people already dealing with the challenges of a chronic neurological illness.
“My wife and I have had to realign how we live now, and our plans and ambitions for the future,” said Phil Stelzer of Defiance, Ohio, who has lived with early-onset Parkinson’s since 2023. “We try to save more, expecting to have to rely on those savings sooner in life, but fighting Parkinson’s disease is also expensive, which cuts into what we can save. It’s been a complete change to our traditional retirement planning and investments.”
The report projects the total cost of Parkinson’s will increase to $112 billion by 2045.
“It is alarming to see the societal cost to treat PD [Parkinson’s disease] continue to grow,” said James Beck, PhD, executive vice president and chief scientific officer at the Parkinson’s Foundation. “This new study further underscores the extreme financial burden to not only society, but to the families of those living with PD. Parkinson’s remains one of the most expensive diseases to care for yet the U.S. government invests less than 1% of this cost in searching for better treatments and cures through research. Disease-modifying breakthroughs are within reach, that’s why together with the Parkinson’s community, the Parkinson’s Foundation is urging for an increased investment of at least $600 million annually for Parkinson’s research at NIH.”
Analysis includes atypical parkinsonism and broader disease impact
The report covers not only Parkinson’s disease itself, but also atypical forms of parkinsonism such as progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple system atrophy, and dementia with Lewy bodies. The report was created with support from three nonprofit sponsors — the Parkinson’s Foundation, the American Parkinson Disease Association, and CurePSP — and from the pharmaceutical companies Abbvie and Acadia Pharmaceuticals.
“These findings bring into focus the full economic burden of [atypical parkinsonism] including the often overlooked indirect costs borne by families and care partners,” said Kristophe Diaz, PhD, CEO of CurePSP. “They make clear that this is not only a scientific challenge, but a societal and economic one. Ensuring that atypical parkinsonisms are fully represented in diagnosis, care and research, while advancing earlier detection, robust biomarkers and effective therapies, will be critical to improving outcomes and reducing burden.”
The report’s publication comes just after the 2026 Parkinson’s Policy Forum, where more than 300 advocates gathered in Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers and push for policies such as increased federal funding for research.
“The financial hardship of life with PD [Parkinson’s disease] continues to rise, and as the study shows, it’s rising at a faster pace than anticipated,” said Anne Hubbard, chief public policy officer at the American Parkinson Disease Association. “Increased federal investment in Parkinson’s research is critical, and is needed now, to get us to a cure faster and mitigate this ever-increasing economic burden on the PD community and our country.”
