Parkinson's Awareness Month

Parkinson’s Awareness Month is the perfect time to brush up on your Parkinson’s facts. Here are 5 fast facts about PD:

1. Nearly 90,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Parkinson’s each year.

2. Scientists believe a combination of environmental and genetic factors cause PD.

3. People with Parkinson’s experience both movement and non-movement related symptoms.

4. Symptoms can be managed through treatments like medications, lifestyle changes, exercise and in some cases, surgery.

5. Early-onset Parkinson’s disease occurs in people younger than 50 years of age.

Learn more about the impact of Parkinson’s on our statistics page.

It can be hard to tell if you or a loved one has Parkinson’s. PD is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. Symptoms generally develop slowly over years and the progression of symptoms is often different from one person to another.

Here are 10 early signs of Parkinson’s:

1. Tremors, often in the hands or fingers

2. Small handwriting

3. Loss of smell

4. Trouble sleeping

5. Trouble moving or walking, including stiffness and balance problems

6. Constipation

7. A soft or low voice

8. Facial Masking, meaning a reduction of facial expressions

9. Dizziness or fainting

10. Stooping or hunching over

No single one of these signs means that you should worry, but if you have more than one sign, consider making an appointment to talk to your doctor.

For more information check out our fact sheet.

Parkinson’s comes with a variety of symptoms that can vary widely from person to person. While there are common symptoms associated with PD, everyone’s experience is unique.

Parkinson's symptoms fall into two categories:

1. Movement symptoms include tremors, balance issues slowness of movement (known as bradykinesia). Learn more about movement symptoms.

2. Non-movement  symptoms include anxiety, depression, fatigue, loss of smell and sleep disorders. Find out about non-movement symptoms.

Finding the right combination of medications, complementary therapies, exercise, support systems and strategies for maintaining independence can help people with Parkinson’s manage their symptoms and lead a fulfilling life.

Here are some tips to help manage PD symptoms:

• Build Your Care Team: Taking a patient-centered approach to healthcare is essential to living well with Parkinson’s. Since people experience Parkinson’s differently, building a diverse team of health experts allows you to manage your unique PD symptoms — and maximize your quality of life.       

• Exercise: People with Parkinson’s who exercise for 2.5 hours per week experience a slowed decline in quality of life. Verified exercise strategies can keep you moving well.

• Medication: Since most Parkinson’s symptoms are caused by a lack of dopamine in the brain, many Parkinson’s drugs are aimed at either temporarily replenishing dopamine or mimicking the action of dopamine.

• Diet & Nutrition: Food (what you eat, how much and when) can impact how you live well with Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s affects everyone differently. Symptoms vary in intensity and timing while progression is unique to each person. Understanding the stages of Parkinson’s can help you navigate these changes.

There are five stages of Parkinson’s disease. Healthcare professionals use this scale to describe how movement symptoms progress in Parkinson’s. On this scale:

• Stages 1 and 2 represent early-stage PD. Symptoms are mild and do not often interfere with daily activities.

• Stages 2 and 3 represent mid-stage PD. Symptoms may start getting worse and falls may become more common.

• Stages 4 and 5 represent advanced-stage PD. Symptoms are fully developed and constant care is typically needed.

Learn more about Parkinson’s stages.

Explore tips for helping your loved one with advanced PD.

The only path to a cure for Parkinson’s is through accelerating research from the disease’s basic biology to its effects on the brain and how it impacts those living with PD.

• Grants and Fellowship Awards: Our research grants fund promising, innovative scientists around the world who work towards the breakthroughs that can lead to better treatments.

• Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech: Together with Parkinson’s UK, we are funding the development of new therapies aimed to treat, and ultimately cure, Parkinson’s. This initiative is how we plan to deliver the next Parkinson’s treatment in years, not decades.

• PD GENEration: Mapping the future of Parkinson’s Disease: Our global initiative offers genetic testing and counseling at no cost for people with Parkinson’s.

Explore Parkinson’s research studies on our Join a Study page.

The Parkinson’s Foundation has tons of resources for every stage of your Parkinson’s journey. Here are the top 5 resources we recommend for everyone.

1. Helpline: Call our Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) for answers to your Parkinson’s questions. Staffed by nurses, social workers and health educators, the Helpline is here to support you.

2. Newly Diagnosed Guide: Designed to help people with Parkinson’s and their loved ones get started on their PD journey, learn more about PD and prepare for a doctor's appointment.

3. Hospital Safety Guide: This guide is a resource for people with Parkinson's and their care partners filled with useful tools and information to prepare for and navigate a hospital stay, either planned or unplanned.

4. Genetic Testing and Counseling study: PD GENEration: Mapping the Future of Parkinson’s Disease is a global research study that provides genetic testing and counseling at no cost for people with Parkinson’s.

5. PD Library: Explore our books, podcast episodes, fact sheets, videos and more.