Occurrence of Parkinson's disease in black patients at Charity Hospital in New Orleans

Abstract

A survey of 446,158 patients admitted to Charity Hospital in New Orleans between 1959 and 1969 showed an incidence of Parkinson9s disease that was significantly greater in white than in black people in all but one age category (30 to 39). Our data are in accord with data on Parkinson9s disease mortality and morbidity reported by other epidemiologic studies. We suggest further investigation of the melanin metabolic pathways and catecholamine metabolism in black people.