What Is Parkinson's Disease?
More Than a Movement Disorder
Parkinson's changes more than movement. It can reshape everyday life - for the person diagnosed and for everyone who shares the journey.
What Happens in the Brain?
Parkinson's disease develops as dopamine-producing nerve cells in a small brain region called the substantia nigra become damaged and are gradually lost.
Motor Symptoms
The resulting dopamine shortage contributes to typical motor symptoms such as slowness of movement, muscle stiffness, resting tremor, and changes in walking or balance.
More Than Movement
Parkinson's can also affect sleep, digestion, smell, mood, energy, pain, and thinking. Some of these changes may begin years before motor symptoms. Research offers the opportunity for earlier answers, better treatments, and a future with greater independence.
No two people live with Parkinson's in exactly the same way, which is why care should be shaped around the person, not only the diagnosis.
SYMPTOMS & IMPACT
Parkinson's Can Look Different From One Person to the Next.
Some symptoms are visible. Others begin subtly. Together, they can shape movement, confidence, and everyday life.
Parkinson's in Numbers
1.1 Million
People in the United States are living with Parkinson's.
Nearly 90,000
People in the United States are diagnosed each year.
1.5 Times
Parkinson's is more common in men than in women.
Early to Mid-60s
Is the typical age at which Parkinson's begins.
Motor Symptoms
The characteristic movement-related symptoms of Parkinson's include:
Slowness of Movement
Everyday actions may become slower, smaller, or harder to start. Walking, dressing, writing, and other routine activities can require greater effort.
Stiffness
Muscles may feel tight or resistant to movement, sometimes causing discomfort or pain, and limiting mobility.
Tremor
A rhythmic shaking may occur, often beginning on one side of the body. However, not everyone with Parkinson's develops tremor.
Changes in Walking and Balance
Steps may become shorter, posture may change, and turning or maintaining balance may become more difficult as the disease progresses.
BEYOND MOVEMENT
The Symptoms You Can't Always See Can Still Change Everything.
Parkinson's affects far more than movement. Many non-motor symptoms can appear years before a diagnosis and may have a greater impact on quality of life than the motor symptoms.
Sleep Disturbances
Insomnia, restless sleep, or acting out dreams can lead to daytime fatigue and exhaustion.
Reduced Sense of Smell
Hyposmia can appear early and may be one of the first signs of disease.
Digestive Changes
Constipation and other digestive problems are common and can be persistent.
Mood and Motivation
Depression, anxiety, and apathy can affect emotional well-being and daily life.
Fatigue and Pain
Overwhelming fatigue and pain can limit energy and participation in activities.
Autonomic Changes
Dizziness on standing, bladder difficulties, and blood pressure changes can disrupt daily life.
Speech and Swallowing
Changes in voice or swallowing can affect communication and nutrition.
Thinking and Memory
Difficulty with attention, processing, and memory can impact independence and confidence.
A Profound Impact on Quality of Life
Non-motor symptoms can affect relationships, work, hobbies, and the ability to enjoy everyday moments. They are often invisible to others, yet their impact is very real.
Addressing these symptoms with the same urgency as motor symptoms is essential to helping people live well with Parkinson's.
EARLY DETECTION
Why Early Detection Matters.
Parkinson's often begins years before the first tremor, stiffness, or slowing of movement. During this prodromal phase, people may experience changes such as reduced sense of smell, constipation, depression, anxiety, or sleep disturbances—long before a diagnosis is made.
By developing reliable biomarkers that reveal the earliest biological signs of Parkinson's, we hope to give people clearer answers sooner and create a window for treatment before movement, cognition, independence, and quality of life are affected.
The Prodromal Phase
Disease-related changes can begin quietly years before classic motor symptoms appear.
Early Detection
Biomarkers may help identify Parkinson's earlier and reduce years of uncertainty.
Earlier Answers
Detecting disease earlier may create the best opportunity to intervene before greater damage occurs.
Understanding Creates Opportunity
To change the course of Parkinson's, we must first understand it more completely. We need to discover why the disease begins, how it can be detected at the earliest possible stage, and why symptoms and progression differ so widely from one person to another.