Little Known Facts About Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s is not just a tremor. While tremor is the most recognized symptom, Parkinson’s (PD) can also cause stiffness, slowness, balance issues, speech changes, depression, anxiety, fatigue, pain, sleep problems, and cognitive changes. It’s a full-body, whole-life condition.

You don’t have to be old to get it. Parkinson’s is often seen as an "old person’s disease," but young onset Parkinson’s can begin before age 50—and some are diagnosed in their 20s or 30s.

Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological disease in the world. Rates of Parkinson’s have doubled in the last 25 years—and environmental exposures are a big, suspected factor, not just aging and genetics. 11.8 million people have been diagnosed worldwide. That is expected to double to 25 million by 2040.

Medication timing is crucial. Parkinson’s medications are time sensitive. Even small delays can have a big impact on mobility and well-being—especially in hospitals and care homes.

Parkinson’s is more than physical. Parkinson’s messes with emotions, mood, memory, sleep, and relationships. It’s neurological and psychological. Many experience depression or anxiety before motor symptoms appear.

Not everyone with Parkinson’s shakes. Some people with Parkinson’s never develop tremor. Others may have visible symptoms like freezing of gait, facial masking, or soft speech. It shows up differently for everyone.

Community and creativity are powerful medicine. Exercise, social connection, music, art, dance, boxing, and storytelling all help people with Parkinson’s live fuller lives. Advocacy, humor, and purpose matter as much as pills.

Inequities in diagnosis and treatment. It is estimated the half the people with Parkinson’s have yet to be diagnosed and two-thirds of countries in the world have no access the Levodopa-Carbidopa, the gold standard treatment for PD.

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