Age lies at heart of problem

Both environmental, genetic factors are thought to contribute to onset of disease

China's rapidly aging population is presenting a challenge to curbing an epidemic of Parkinson's disease, health experts warned on World Parkinson's Disease Day, which fell on Tuesday.

China has about 2.2 million people who suffer from the disease, a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that largely affects motor coordination, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission.