Leveraging big data to improve care for people with Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a rapidly growing neurodegenerative disorder affecting millions worldwide. Its complex motor and non-motor symptoms significantly impact the quality of life in people with PD. The overall aim of my thesis is to determine whether the care for people with PD can be improved by leveraging medical claims data. I specifically focus on the clinical effects of a key set of non-pharmacological therapies, namely specialized allied health interventions, and of the most commonly used pharmacological therapy in PD, namely levodopa. I aim to provide real-world insights that could guide clinicians toward more individualized and evidence-based decisions.