Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
DOI: 10.18579/jopcr/v25.i4.165
Year: 2026, Volume: 25, Issue: 4, Pages: 219-228
Systematic Review
Renu Kumari1, Nirmal Dongre2, Souravh Bais3*
1Research Scholar, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, SAGE University, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
2Professor, Department of Pharmacognosy, Institute of Pharmacy, SAGE University, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
3Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, SAGE University, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
*Corresponding Author
Email: [email protected]
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with marked clinical heterogeneity influenced by age at disease onset. Early-Onset Parkinson's Disease (EOPD), typically diagnosed before 50 years of age, differs substantially from Late-Onset Parkinson's Disease (LOPD) in its genetic basis, clinical manifestations, disease progression, therapeutic response, and socioeconomic consequences. A systematic comparative review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Published comparative cohort studies, epidemiological investigations, systematic reviews, and related clinical studies evaluating EOPD and LOPD were identified through searches of PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Eligible studies were selected using predefined PICOS criteria, and the available evidence was synthesized primarily through narrative analysis because of methodological and clinical heterogeneity across studies. The reviewed evidence demonstrates that EOPD is strongly associated with monogenic mutations, particularly PRKN, PINK1, DJ-1, and LRRK2, whereas LOPD is predominantly influenced by aging-related neurodegenerative mechanisms and cumulative environmental exposures. Individuals with EOPD generally exhibit slower disease progression, better preservation of cognitive function, and greater responsiveness to dopaminergic therapy but experience a higher incidence of levodopa-induced dyskinesia and motor fluctuations during long-term treatment. In contrast, LOPD is characterized by accelerated clinical progression, greater cognitive decline, psychosis, autonomic dysfunction, gait impairment, and increased healthcare utilization. Deep Brain Stimulation demonstrates greater suitability and long-term benefit in carefully selected patients with EOPD, while socioeconomic burden differs substantially between the two groups, with indirect productivity loss predominating in EOPD and direct medical costs being more prominent in LOPD. EOPD and LOPD represent biologically and clinically distinct phenotypes of Parkinson's disease that require individualized diagnostic approaches, age-specific therapeutic strategies, and targeted long-term management. Future research should emphasize standardized age-at-onset definitions, longitudinal cohort studies, and the development of precision medicine approaches to improve outcomes across both patient populations.
Keywords: Early-Onset Parkinson's Disease; Late-Onset Parkinson's Disease; Parkinson's Disease; Age at Onset; Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesia; Deep Brain Stimulation
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© 2026 Published by Krupanidhi College of Pharmacy. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
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