einstein (São Paulo). 01/Jul/2016;14(3):7-9.

Parkinson’s patients in the Brazilian Public Health Policy context

DOI: 10.1590/S1679-45082016ED3780

Demographic profiles are changing in Brazil and worldwide. If, in the 1950’s, we saw a pyramid represented in age group graphs, the trend for 2060 is that we will probably see a rectangle.⁽⁾ This means we are aging, and individuals aged over 60 years, in Brazil, will account for approximately 33.7% of the entire population.⁽⁾ That is an alarming number for society as a whole, especially for Public Health managers who need new strategies to cope with the impact this will bring to everyone.

We need to have detailed knowledge of demographic, social, cultural, economic and health-related aspects, among others, when referring to certain population segments, such as in the case of seniors. They acquire representation in societies, and this must be translated as the main foundation for the establishment of policies to meet the demands of these contingents, whether these policies are public or private,⁽⁾ because aging is a process linked to all of society, and it should not be met with discrimination.

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