Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42393482›Full record

ArticleNeurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology2026

Diverging trends in motor neuron disease burden in China: an ageing-driven increase despite declining age-standardised rates - a GBD 2021 analysis.

Daowen Ji, Zhongying Gong, Jixiang Du, Dan Zhao

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Article in Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Daowen JiDepartment of Neurology, School of Medicine, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300192, China.
Zhongying GongDepartment of Neurology, School of Medicine, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300192, China.
Jixiang DuDepartment of Neurology, School of Medicine, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300192, China.
Dan ZhaoDepartment of Neurology, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China. zdzhaodanzd@126.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-7828-1952

Funding

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6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAge-standardised rates of motor neuron disease (MND) have declined in many settings, yet the absolute burden continues to rise in ageing populations. Whether this divergence is driven by demographic change or epidemiological shifts remains unclear, particularly in China.

methodsUsing data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, we analysed trends in MND burden in China from 1990 to 2021. Decomposition analysis was applied to quantify the contributions of population ageing, population growth, and changes in age-specific rates. Age-specific incidence patterns were compared with global estimates, and key findings were validated against recent Chinese epidemiological studies.

resultsDespite declining age-standardised prevalence and DALY rates, the absolute number of cases and DALYs increased substantially. Population ageing accounted for 46.0% of the increase in DALYs, followed by population growth (35.0%) and changes in age-specific rates (19.0%). Age-specific incidence rates in China were consistently lower than global estimates. External validation demonstrated high consistency with national epidemiological studies.

conclusionsThe increasing burden of MND in China is primarily driven by demographic ageing rather than increasing disease risk. Declining age-standardised rates may mask growing healthcare demands in rapidly ageing populations.

Indexed as

AgingGlobal Burden of DiseaseMotor Neuron DiseaseAged, 80 and overChinaFemaleHumansIncidencePrevalenceAgeing-drivenDiverging trendsGlobal Burden of DiseaseMotor neuron diseaseParadox

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.