World Parkinson’s Day: The HEREDITARY Project’s Role in a Growing Global Challenge

by | Apr 11, 2025 | Hereditary

Every year on 11 April, World Parkinson’s Day raises awareness about this chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. This day serves to highlight the importance of early diagnosis, continued scientific research, and the need for comprehensive care strategies that support both patients and caregivers to finally improve the quality of life of those affected.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is currently one of the fastest-growing neurological disorders in the world. In Europe alone, more than 1.2 million people are living with the condition—a figure that is expected to double by 2030. Globally, the number of people affected is estimated to reach 11.8 million.

PD is a complex and progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement, cognitive function, and overall quality of life. Its symptoms and progression vary widely, making each case unique. Although its exact cause remains unknown, current research points to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Despite notable advances in treatment, there is still no cure. Existing therapies focus primarily on managing symptoms rather than slowing the disease’s progression, highlighting the urgency of continued research and innovation in both medical and supportive care strategies.

HEREDITARY’S contribution

The need for early detection and personalised treatment has never been greater — and this is where the HEREDITARY project steps in.

Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, HEREDITARY is unlocking the potential of health data spaces and AI-driven reasoning systems to advance the understanding, detection, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.

In Use Case 3, HEREDITARY integrates a wide range of multimodal data—including brain imaging, ophthalmic scans, clinical records, and more—to make progress in tackling this disease. The UCD is currently leading an innovative research through advanced AI techniques such as deep learning and unsupervised learning, aiming to identify early biomarkers of Parkinson’s, particularly those visible in the eye, and to uncover patterns that could help predict disease development and progression. This integrative approach not only supports earlier and more accurate diagnosis but also opens new doors to personalized treatment strategies.

HEREDITARY is part of a broader movement across Europe. Other impactful EU-funded projects include:

  • The AIPD Project aims to create an international, interdisciplinary graduate school to train the next generation of medical data scientists with a strong translational focus.
  • The BICEPS Project is working under the hypothesis that immune system dysfunction plays a role in Parkinson Disease and will utilise advances in systems biology and AI towards new diagnostics and therapies..
  • The AI-PROGNOSIS Project aims to advance PD diagnosis and care through novel predictive models combined with digital biomarkers from everyday devices.
  • The UNMASK Project is continuing the work of the SCENT project on a bio-based artificial nose system that can be employed for the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

Parkinson’s affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds — and raising awareness is key to driving more research, better care pathways, and early diagnostic innovations that can improve quality of life for millions. As we commemorate World Parkinson’s Day, HEREDITARY stands with researchers, clinicians, patients, and caregivers across Europe to foster a future where technology empowers earlier diagnosis, personalised care, and better lives for those affected by Parkinson’s disease.