In a detailed community study the total prevalence of idiopathic Parkinson's disease in Aberdeen was 164-2/105 of the population. The age and sex specific prevalence rose to 2657-8/105 (2.7%) of men and 2071*0/105 (2 0%) of women aged over 84. The mean age at onset, irrespective of sex, was 65-3 years (SD 12.6) and varied little compared with similar studies over the past 25 years. Half of patients were independent but 78/225 (34.7%) were considerably disabled and 23/225 (10-2%) were confined to bed or a wheelchair. Disability increased with age and also with a low minimental state questionnaire score. The score was <7/10 (graded 0-10) in 93/252 (37%) of patients and <5/10 in 28/252 (11%).Parkinson's disease remains a common and disabling condition in the community.

Following the suggestion that lead derivatives might cause cancer in man, the causes of death among workers known to have been exposed to lead were studied. A group of companies made available the records of their pension fund, and an accumulator factory provided details of men who had died whilst in their employ. Details of each man's exposure to lead were supplied.There were 425 pensioners, of whom 184 had died; 153 deaths occurred among an unknown number of employed men who had not yet reached pensionable age. Expected deaths were calculated from the appropriate rates for all males in England and Wales.It was concluded that there was no evidence to suggest that malignant disease was related to lead absorption. There was, however, evidence that heavy exposure to lead was associated with an increased incidence of deaths from cerebrovascular catastrophies.

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